Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will included m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
Note: This story is from the recess of my mind, but a few elements of this world have been borrowed from another story with permission from the author. His work has been an inspiration to me and I would recommend it to anyone. please visit jaygordonstories.com for his stories, its free to join and there are chapters and stories only available to members.
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Edited with help from Jason Gordon and MommaB and Guy Cornelius, Thanks guys :-)
Angel in black, Chapter 12
Burden
"Alex, you can't carry those memories. Matthew was right, they WILL destroy you," James said, trying not to sound too dramatic.
"I know," Alex sobbed as he fell to the floor crying. "I can't even begin to explain what Jackson has done over his life, all the killing; it's too much for me... please, take them," he begged.
James knelt down in front of Alex; he placed his hands on the sides of Alex's head as Alex did the same to James. As Alex moved the vile memories from his mind to James's he sighed in relief.
James felt the mental weight shift from Alex to himself; James thought he had seen a lot of death, but it was nothing compared to what Jackson had done in a relatively short period of time. It was much more than James had done in his three hundred and forty years.
"Thank you Alex, I see what you mean... He was vicious. Well, now Jackson can get some rest, and maybe you and Matthew can actually spend some real time together," James said as he and Alex stood.
"No, thank you sir, for taking all of that evil from me; I think I would have gone crazy if I had to carry that burden," Alex said relieved.
"No doubt. I see now why you reacted to Leon the way you did... Don't worry, he will be dealt with. Now let's get back to our friends," James said.
"Sir ... you need to tell Matthew what you did," Alex said quietly, standing back a little as James started walking back into the hall.
James looked at him for a moment, wondering what he meant. "What are you referring to, my boy?" he asked.
"The night Matthew was turned; you need to tell him what happened," Alex said.
"You read my mind, didn't you?" James asked.
"Yes, sir, while I transferred the memories. I'm sorry," Alex apologised.
"Don't be sorry, Alex; you're right, I do need to tell him, but not just yet. Let all this settle first, then I will talk to him," James said, putting his arm around Alex's shoulder and leading him back out into the hall.
Tommy took Calvin into the bedroom, and they lay down on his bed together. "What's going to happen with us now?" Tommy asked Calvin.
"I think that's obvious Tommy. I know how you feel, you know how I feel, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon," Calvin replied.
"I didn't think you could fall in love this quick," Tommy said blushing.
"I think you had some help," Calvin said as he rested his hand on Tommy's firm chest, gently tickling the skin just above the neck of Tommy's shirt with his fingers.
Tyson and Bill walked outside looking for Leon; what they found surprised them. Not only had Leon gone through a solid brick wall, he had landed several meters away from the house. "He's going to have one hell of a headache when he wakes up," Bill laughed.
"What are you laughing about? YOUR son did that with his mind!" Tyson said still somewhat stunned.
"I know, I've FELT it before," Bill replied as they picked up Leon's battered body and carried him inside.
"Jack... I like that. Do you think anyone would notice if I started using that name?" he asked.
"No one that matters; everyone knew Jackson, but really that man is dead. I hope you will make the right decisions," Matthew said.
"I think ... with the right guidance, he will," James said as he and Alex emerged from the living room. "Don't worry, Jack, all the enemies you had as Jackson are mostly dead or in prison. And if anyone ever comes looking for you, I think your new friends would have something to say about it," he added looking at Matthew who nodded. Hearing a vehicle pull up out side, James said, "Ah, the cleaners are here!"
"Jackson, could I interest you in a cup of tea?" Marie asked as she stuck her head out of the kitchen. He nodded and followed her into the room saying, "Please, and call me Jack."
"Matthew, Alex, go rest for a bit; I can deal with Leon and the clean up," James said, shooing them.
Tyson and Bill walked into the house, Tyson carrying Leon over his shoulder. "Put him in the living room with the other two, please, lieutenant. I'll get to him in a moment," James said as he walked out side.
"Consul sir! Reporting as ordered," Giles, the leader of this particular clean up crew, said, greeting James.
"Relax Giles; I'm not going to jump down your throat," James said in a relaxed tone.
"Sorry sir, old habit," he replied, blushing slightly with embarrassment.
James smiled warmly at the man, then said, "Well, there are four vampires out back, two humans inside, and what's left of one were-thylacine in the house. The humans are alive but paralysed."
"Yes, Consul, we'll get right on it," Giles said as he hurried off to inspect the mess.
"Oh, and Giles, there's an EX consul assistant in the living room with the two humans... Leave HIM for me," James said coldly, earning a shocked stare from Giles.
"So, Jack, what do you want to do now?" Marie asked.
"Drink my tea? Seriously though, I'm not sure. I don't know what's happened to me since I was turned; I don't even know what happened this morning," Jack said sadly.
"Do you want to remember?" Marie asked, giving Jack a concerned look.
Looking down at his cup, Jack thought for a moment, then said softly "No, I don't care if it's one hundred years of my life, I don't want to know. I feel like I should be dead just for taking Matthew's family away from him. If I knew about everything else I might just...."
Marie reached over and took Jack's hand for comfort, "Jack, you may have lost your past ... but you now have a chance at a better future."
Jack looked at this woman, who showed real concern for him, and a single tear rolled down his cheek as he squeezed her hand gently.
Stopping in the bedroom doorway, Alex and Matthew saw Calvin and Tommy lying on Tommy's bed. 'Let's leave them to whatever they're doing,' Alex thought as he gently pulled Matthew towards his parent's bedroom.
Entering the room and closing the door, Alex gently turned Matthew around, kissing him passionately on the lips. "I have wanted to do that all evening," Alex said, breaking the kiss.
"Amazing!" Matthew sighed as he stared into Alex's jade green eyes. "I'm so proud of what you did for Jack, though if it were me I would have killed him," Matthew said.
Alex sat on the bed and pulled Matthew down next to him. Giving Matthew a serious look, he said, "Don't you see, Matthew, I never would have killed Jack; I thought about leaving him trapped in his own memory, reliving the torment of killing your family for the rest of his life ... but I couldn't kill him, especially after I saw that he was as much a victim as you were."
"How can you call him a victim? He killed dozens," Matthew started saying angrily but Alex cut him off.
"I KNOW what Jackson DID, Matthew. But, like you, he never had a choice. He was attacked, his son murdered and he was turned into a were-thylacine. Then he was brain washed into thinking that his attacker was his brother," Alex said, using a softer tone to calm Matthew. "That man out there now is as far from a murderer as I am. All he knows now is his past up to the day he was turned, and that he is a were-thylacine ... nothing else," Alex said pointing towards the kitchen.
"It's just hard for me to see him as a victim, even after you took his memories. I'd always seen him as the insane murder I had to run from; it's going to be hard for me to let that go quickly," Matthew admitted.
"I know, Matthew. Just try not to think of him as that man when you talk to him," Alex said as he took both of Matthew's hands in his. "Jack is a kind and gentle man and deserves this second chance," he said, squeezing Matthew's hand tenderly.
Looking down at their hands then back to Alex's eyes, Matthew said, "I'll try, for you." Then he leaned in to give Alex another kiss.
Alex pulled back a little from Matthew and sighed. "I wish we had done this before everything happened," Alex said sadly.
"Me too, but now we have a long time to make up for it," Matthew said as he pulled Alex down onto the bed, and they enjoyed their moment of peace.
James walked into the living room just as Giles and his team were taking the two human men out; James sat in an arm chair across from where Leon had been placed on the couch and waited.
Leon was just starting to regain consciousness after Alex's outburst with Matthew; Leon looked around as he slowly opened his eyes and realised he was lying on a couch. "How's your head, Leon?" James asked.
"Sore, sir," Leon answered as he slowly sat up on the couch, his head throbbing.
Keeping calm, James continued his subtle questioning. "What do you remember?" he asked, carefully watching the expression on Leon's face.
"I remember getting your message that the house was clear, I came in and saw Jackson on the ground. When I went to check if he was alive or not he grabbed me. I begged for help, then Jackson must have thrown me into a wall, and that's when I blacked out," Leon said, remembering full well the young man calling him a traitor just before he hit the wall. He hoped the consul hadn't heard that.
James considered what Leon told him. If he hadn't been in the same room at the time, he might have actually believed him too. "Leon, you have worked for me for a very long time, I want you to think very carefully before you answer my next questions," James said seriously.
"Yes, sir," Leon said, sounding slightly nervous.
James thought for a moment. "Did you ever receive any information from Marcos, regarding the last mission he was sent on?" James asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, sir, never," Leon lied.
'Interesting,' James thought to himself. "Did you ever give any information to the Thylacine Council regarding Marcos?" James asked, this time knowing the answer from Jackson's memories.
"Never, sir. That would have been treason!" Leon said, sounding somewhat insulted.
"Do you want to know why that young man out there called you a traitor, Leon?" James asked calmly, his rage boiling just below the surface.
"Sir?" Leon said anxiously as he fidgeted under the consul's gaze.
"Leon, it's because you ARE a traitor. You have been giving the Thylacine Council information about MY Council operatives, and you hid the files that Marcos sent to not only clear his name, but bring those in the Thylacine Council to justice," James said with a calm rage.
Leon couldn't believe what he was hearing; all these years he had been so careful, covered his tracks so well. No one had ever suspected him of anything. Realising that the Consul had made up his mind already, Leon just asked calmly, "How do you know that sir?"
James thought a moment about how he should reveal how he knew to Leon. "Jackson is an open book to me, Leon. I know everything he does. What did you think, Leon, that you could blackmail your way into the top job? I just want to know why?" James asked, starting to let his anger slip into his voice and wash over his face.
Leon wasn't just nervous anymore; he was now terrified. The anger visible on the consul's face had made his eyes darken. But the consul still just sat calmly in the arm chair, watching Leon's every move. Leon tried but couldn't speak; he never thought he would be caught.
James was becoming impatient; he stood up from the chair and took a step towards Leon. "You really don't have any idea what you have done, do you Leon?" James asked, taking another step closer.
Leon looked around the room quickly, thinking he could escape; he went to run towards the living room door but the Consul stopped him dead in his tracks, with a hand around his throat, lifting Leon off of the ground slightly. "You didn't just try to have a Council operative killed Leon, you tried to murder MY child!" James growled.
Leon now knew his mistake. Marcos wasn't the Consul's pet project; he was the Consul's child. 'Shit!' Leon thought to himself.
"But, I'm not going to kill you, Leon. I need you to tell me where you put those files," James said as he gently lowered Leon back to the ground. "Just know this. If you try to run, your death will NOT be quick and will be VERY painful," James added.
Bill and Tyson were sitting out in the back yard remembering their army days in the warm night air. "We had some good times, didn't we, Ty?" Bill asked.
"Oh yeah, if you want to call being chased by werewolves and vampires good times," Tyson said sarcastically, glaring at Bill.
"I thought they were good times, the best memories I have from my service days," Bill said. "I'm just sorry we lost touch over the years. You were a good friend Tyson," he added.
"So were you, Wild Bill," Tyson said, smiling, just as James came out the back door. "Consul, do you need anything?" Tyson asked.
Taking a moment to relax, James took a few deep breaths then said, "Not just yet Lieutenant, but soon I will need you to take Leon back to my home and put him in a cell. He's charged with treason and attempted murder of a Council operative."
"Yes, sir," Tyson said surprised at the relaxed tone the Consul spoke in.
"Bill, if you are interested, I would like you to accompany them," James said.
Bill nodded then looked to Tyson and smirked, "Looks like we are going to be working together more often."
"Great," Tyson said sarcastically.
Marie and Jack had been talking for a while when Bill walked into the kitchen. "James has asked Tyson and me to escort Leon back to his home, where he has a cell waiting. Jack, if you want, you're welcome to stay here for as long as you need to. We don't have a lot of room but we can find a bed for you," Bill said smiling kindly.
"Thank you Bill! I don't even know where I was living before, but I'm sure I don't want to know," Jack said gratefully.
Out the front of the house, Giles and his team were almost ready to leave with their cargo and prisoners when James stopped them. "Giles, a moment?" James asked.
Giles stopped and turned to answer the Consul, "Yes, sir?"
"I assume you have completed your initial assessment?" James asked.
"Yes, Consul," Giles said.
Giving Giles a look that said don't mess with me right now, James said, "And, your report?"
"Sorry, sir," Giles said nervous. "Four dead vampires and one dead were-thylacine, bodies to be incinerated and two adult human males to be transported to Uluru prison," Giles said.
"What about the house? Is it structurally sound?" James asked as he looked at the rather small, two bedroom home.
"With the exception of the hole that Leon made as he passed through the wall and the damage to the wall near the front door, yes sir, the house is structurally sound," Giles explained.
"Estimated repair time?" James asked.
"A week, maybe less," Giles said.
"And if I wanted to make a few renovations? Add a couple rooms and maybe a training room?" James asked, thinking aloud.
Giles looked at the Consul in awe, he had never heard of Consul Larson doing anything like he assumed he was thinking. "I would estimate around two to three months, depending on what you had in mind," Giles told the Consul, giving him a rough estimate.
James smiled. "Very good, Giles! I want you to take care of anything in regards to this house personally. I would consider it a personal favour," James said, looking the man in the eye.
"Sir," Giles said suddenly speechless. No one was ever asked to do the Consul a favour, ever. "Anything you want sir, here is my personal number," Giles said handing James his contact card.
"Thank you, Giles, and please, call me James," he said, turning to go back into the house.
Walking into the living room, James stared at Leon, who had his head in his hands. James stared at him a moment longer before he spoke. "Leon, you are going to go with Lt. Smith and Lt. Davies, who will escort you to my house. Once there, you are going to be placed in a cell until I question you about the files you have hidden. Then you will wait until your trial before the Council for treason and attempted murder," James told Leon then walked on to the kitchen.
Tyson was standing just outside the kitchen door as James walked up. "Its time Lieutenant," James said as he placed a hand on Tyson's shoulder then walked into the kitchen.
Bill, Marie and Jack stopped talking when James walked into the room; they could see by the look on his face that he wasn't happy. "Bill, could you go with Lt. Smith," James said.
"Time to go, I'll see you all soon," Bill said, then kissed Marie goodbye and went off to find Tyson.
"Jack, you are more then welcome to stay here, or, you can come with me back to my home. I have plenty of room there; actually, Marie, I'm inviting all of you to come and stay with me while your house is repaired," James said surprising them both.
"What?" Marie said somewhat shocked. "Our house isn't that badly damaged is it?" she asked.
"No, not really," James said then continued, "I'm planning on doing a few renovations as a gift to you all, and it would go a lot faster if you weren't actually in the house."
"You don't have to do that James! This house is fine just how it is. Its cosy," Marie said smiling.
"Marie, I want to do this, and I won't take no for and answer," James said, smiling at her warmly.
Thinking about it Marie quickly replied. "Alright, but if I come home and find a ten room hotel here someone is going to get slapped!" she said laughing.
Smiling James said, "If you would like to grab a few things for yourself and Bill for an extended stay, Marie, I'm going to go tell the boys to do the same." Then James left the kitchen in search of Calvin and Tommy.
"When was the last time you travelled by portal Bill?" Tyson asked as he and Bill stood in the back yard with a restrained Leon between them.
"When was the last mission we went on?" Bill said, raising an eyebrow at Tyson.
"Nineteen eighty six! Damn you really have been away from all this for a while," Tyson said as he opened a portal into the Consul's basement, then he and Bill stepped through pulling Leon along behind them.
The basement was dark, dank and silent. "Can't see a damn thing!" Tyson said as he stumbled along in the dark, trying to find a wall with a light switch.
"Someone forgot a simple spell!" Bill laughed as he clicked his fingers on his left hand. His whole arm lit on fire, but it never burned him. It was an illusion spell designed to simply create the image of fire and light, without the harmful effects.
Glaring at Bill and mentally kicking himself for forgetting something so simple, Tyson said, "Come on, the cells are this way." Then they dragged Leon off to his cell.
Walking into Tommy and Alex's bedroom, James found Calvin and Tommy laying on one of the beds, Calvin asleep in Tommy's arms. "Calvin was exhausted; he fell asleep a short time after we lay down," Tommy said quietly as he looked up at James.
"After healing a wound like that, I'm not surprised. He probably should have fed too," James said.
"Oh, okay," Tommy said, still feeling guilty over Calvin's injury.
Kneeling down next to the bed, James gently nudged Calvin awake. "Calvin, its time to go," James said.
Calvin rolled into Tommy and spoke sleepily, "No, I don't want to go."
"It's alright, Calvin. Tommy's coming with us," James said softly.
"He is?" Calvin said, waking up a little more.
"Yes, the whole family is coming to stay with me, while I have the house repaired," James explained.
"Really?" Tommy asked, surprised.
"Yes, Tommy, really! So if you want to pack a bag of things you'll need, we will be leaving soon," James said, getting up to go find Matthew and Alex.
Marie stood at the door into her and Bill's bedroom unsure of what to do, just as James walked up to her. "Marie, what's wrong?" James asked sensing her confusion.
"Alex and Matthew are in there," Marie said quietly, trying not to disturb them.
"What? Are they doing something shameful in your bedroom?" James asked with a smirk.
"Not exactly, take a look for your self," Marie said as she opened the door slowly.
James's smirk quickly faded into shock at the site of Matthew and Alex floating about a meter above the bed, and yet they were both asleep. "Now that's something you don't come across everyday," James said softly.
"Boys, its time to get up," Marie said softly, attempting to wake the floating pair without startling them.
Alex was the first to wake; as he did they gently drifted back down to the bed. Then Matthew woke. "What's going on?" Matthew asked as he rubbed his tired eyes.
"We are all going to stay with James while he has our house repaired," Marie said as she grabbed a suitcase and started putting her clothes in it.
"Really?" Alex asked, suddenly excited.
"Yes, really," James said at Alex's enthusiasm.
"Cool!" Alex exclaimed as he got up off the bed, heading toward his bedroom to get a few clothes.
Matthew went to follow Alex but James stopped him. "Matthew, I want to talk to you a moment," James said quietly as he started walking towards the back door.
Matthew followed wondering what this was about. When they reached the back yard, James sat down on the steps by the back door and patted the spot next to him for Matthew to sit. "Sir, what is this about?" Matthew asked as he sat down next to James.
"It was a very cold night that night. I remember it well; I was chasing a rogue through the streets of Sydney. In those days I had to do a lot of the chasing jobs like that myself, didn't have too many new recruits that wanted to help in a fledgling nation," James said as he stared into the night's sky.
Looking at James confused, Matthew asked, "What night are you referring to, sir?"
"The night you were turned, Matthew," James said as he turned and looked Matthew in the eye.
Thanks for reading Angel in black chapter 12, be sure to stop by my site where you will find a blog with some interesting insight into the chapters abd also the story closet where i also post my work. thanks again, Mikey.
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