Faded Fragments
part 16
"He failed me."
"Sir, everyone fails you at some point or another. In fact, I'd pretty much say it's inevitable at the rate you're going."
Seth Kellerman merely walked a few steps forward, the tight smile on his face threatening to crack, as he threw out a hand, ramming it hard into the wall to his right, a scream of pure rage consuming him when he cried out. Patrick struggled to calmly take a cautious step back from the unexpected reaction, slowly edging himself out of the chair he'd fallen into only minutes before, his expression unable to hide the horror. "Are you giving me a glimpse of my future, or can I save myself the trouble, Patrick?"
Patrick swallowed hard, forcing himself to look up, his hands trying everything in their power to sit comfortably at his sides. "Trouble?"
"Can I kill you now, or do you still plan on honoring my loyalty?" he replied fondly, shooting the other man a small smile.
"And while we're on that wonderful subject, may I suggest that we merely change our perspectives and apply reinforcements?"
"It doesn't matter any longer if he keeps his powers or not, Patrick. He's already lost."
"But if I may-"
"If I may, Patrick, I don't really think it would be wise of you to say anything more right now, if you expect me to overlook the fact that your friend ruined all the fun in my little playground."
"And maybe you're just a spoiled little child, who needs to learn to share," he quipped.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, he told you he wasn't a team player, didn't he?"
"So he did, and it shall be noted."
"Noted..."
"In your terms? I'm going to kill him, and I'm going to make it quick. I really wouldn't be who I am today, if I didn't oblige, right?"
"But shouldn't we be focusing our attentions on the wit-"
"I want to stay in control, so therefore I must continue to be in control. It's a simple deduction, and one you couldn't have possibly handled without my assitance."
"Then why don't I show how capable I am, and take care of Jake for you?" he reasoned quietly.
"Either way, I'm going to continue maintaining my role as host in that worthless scrap of business that severely troubled little boyfriend of hers has, and see if I can obtain a brief chat with our woman of the hour. Afterall, appearances must be kept, and I fully intend to keep them."
"No pun intended, but the plan isn't exactly to charm the little witch, Sir. If those were your intentions all along, may I suggest a bouquet of roses for your trouble? Or perhaps a box of chocolates to equal your previously drawn sentiments?"
"We agreed that past mistakes seen in those before us, have only served to cause us harm, and have done nothing to further rid The Charmed Ones of their petty lives here on earth. You see, Patrick, we're not only taking their lives into our hands now, we're manipulating time to destroy those lives. We'll own them, and there isn't a damn thing they can do to stop us."
"And after all this time, it's not the least bit clichéd to want to keep trying to kill them?"
"You continually miss my mark, and yet I still have absolutely no idea why I keep you around." He laughed, pursing his lips, his eyes flashing wickedly. "But who knows? Maybe I'll change my mind while I'm taking care of poor, disturbed Mr. Randolph, and rid you of your life at the very same time. Two for one, and a fine job of it."
"Then I'd say good luck, Mr. Kellerman, because we both know that's already long past."
"Your point being?"
"You can't and you won't."
"I honestly hope that isn't another threat, Patrick. Because my patience is running terribly slim, and I would sincerely hate to do anything rash at this stage, wouldn't you?"
Patrick Redmond merely gritted his teeth, as his face tightened ever so slightly, tucking his hands carefully behind his back. "And I'm afraid I want this a hell of a lot more than you do, Mr. Kellerman."
"You really think so?"
"It's becoming fairly obvious that you're trying to stall and prolong this for God knows what reason- and personally? I firmly believe you've been hiding a soft spot for that bitch all along."
"You think wrong."
"Do I?"
"Maybe I should let Rickman in, if you....feel so inclined to argue about it. I mean, with all due respect, I'm sure he'd love this." He calmly slung an arm around his friend's shoulders, quickly drawing him in, as he spoke. "Yes. Yes, I think he would. It's like I said before, Patrick. Your betrayal to me, will only foretell consequences that fall strictly in your favor. I walk out clean, you take my fall. Contrary to what I already believe you to be, I somehow don't believe you're necessarily prepared to see your part come to an end. Not without seeing this play out to the fullest."
"You'd be correct in that assumption, Sir."
"Then stop screwing with me," Seth replied simply, as he roughly tossed the smaller man aside, watching as his shoulder narrowly missed colliding directly into the wall. "We're partners, and you owe me. You understand that? You owe me to continue live, breathe, and remember what Celia would have wanted."
"And we both know this isn't only about our loss anymore, Seth."
"Loyalty isn't our target. And just between you and me, Patrick? I believe revenge to be all the more sweeter."
"Let Rickman in," he suggested.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Do it. See if I care."
"I'm sorry?"
He smiled. "You'll never have that pardon, you clueless bastard. As a matter of fact, I just realized something, Sir. Our goals differ entirely too much for me to keep working in this capacity, and will cease to do so, as soon as this conversation has ended. I'm cutting you off. Instead of sitting here, literally begging for redemption in your eyes, I could well be on my way by now- making more progress, and in a significantly less amount of time. Face it, you've lost your touch. You can't stand there and admit it, but I'll be damned if I'm actually going to agree to every bone you throw at me. We're through. Okay? This partnership is through, you're through, and your prized colleague will certainly do a hell of a lot more than me, if only to make sure the both of you do enough damage to keep us here for all eternity and beyond. I'm tired of being your lap dog, and quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Randolph fries you to a damn crisp, before you ever find him first. Payback's a bitch, Seth. Enjoy the ride."
"You wouldn't dare," he sneered.
"You'll see how it's supposed to be done, and then you and Rickman will cower at my feet and plead for your lives when this is over. Your resistance to the truth will be quite the gain on my part. And trust me, Seth. I'm deeply looking forward to it."
"You really think I'm going to buy into this?"
"This isn't all about you! It was never about you. I may have had a part in devising this poor excuse for a world with you, but my future isn't going to end with a vanquish. But Turner's, on the other hand..."
"You and Randolph had this planned all along, didn-"
"Oh, no," he countered, randomly tossing his hands up, as he quietly shrugged. "But it's funny how the cards play you, isn't it? Cole was right. We're unpredictable, and I've just dealt you one."
"You need me, Patrick."
"You're no longer in charge."
"I will play this out. Mark my words."
"And so the race begins," he murmured.
Seth stared at him for a long moment, his lips slightly creased, his eyes strangely lit in amusement, as he continued to consider the prospect, running a finger firmly along his jawline. "May the best man win," he declared. "Only I kindly suggest you also remove yourself from my office, before this offer is no longer valid."
**********
Phoebe Halliwell slowly pulled open the door, professing a tired yawn, as she lightly squinted her brown eyes into the bright glare of the surrounding world that greeted her on the outside. Clad in a spaghetti strap and matching bottoms, she struggled to focus her attention on the figure that stood there, a beautiful smile troubling his gorgeous visage, as he briefly gestured to her with a cup of coffee, a newspaper tucked protectively under one arm. Hands propped against her slender hips, she pursed her lips, trying awfully hard to hide a grin that was minutes away from surfacing. "What's the occasion this time? I mean, obviously it's lacking in damsel in distress mode."
"Warm coffee?" he volunteered innocently, as he waved the cup fondly in her direction.
"And does Cole Turner really think I'm going to be tempted to breakfast, when I've already declined lunch?"
"That depends on Cole's perspective- which is actually surprisingly hopeful right now."
"Mmmm...I'm really sorry to disappoint him, because my schedule already happens to be extremely well booked. But if he comes back later? I'll be sure and hold true to our appointment."
"Phoebe, look, I know I'm not-"
"No. You're not. Because this is where I live, Cole, this is where I sleep- and as of now, it's entirely off limits to advertising. So unless you came by hoping to get a cheap thrill, I'll see you later."
"Doesn't anything phase you?"
"Yes. Men who actually have the decency to call, before they come over and catch a girl in her pj's."
"And just for the record, you look great in those pj's," he countered, chuckling softly.
"You still can't take no for an answer, can you? Even after what happened last night."
"Because what happened last night, only proves you have a lot more you're not telling me."
"If this is about my powers again, you can just shove-"
"Who's Jake, and what does he want with you?" he brought forth.
"Cole-"
"Since you've already accused me of working with and for him, I'd say I have a right to know at this point."
"No. Actually, you don't. Like I said I before, I barely know you, and I'm not about to go and disclose personal-"
"Then what better way to get to know me better, than over breakfast? C'mon, I'll buy."
"No means no."
"And there's gotta be a reason why this guy has practically taken out a contract on your life."
"That's my business, alright? Let me worry about it."
He considered a moment, his bottom lip falling over the top, as he briefly studied the soles of his shoes. Tapping one mindlessly across the cement, he calmly shook his head. "I can't."
"Excuse me?"
"Have breakfast with me, Phoebe."
"Don't you get it?"
"What I don't get, is why a woman like you would more or less settle for a man who doesn't understand her."
"And if you're referring to yourself, I'd say you're right on target."
"Why are you so willing to sacrifice your life for something you don't even care about?"
"How...how would- how would you know what I care about?" she stammered, clearly losing her balance, as she roughly slapped two slender hands onto his chest, angrily shoving him back. She shivered slightly, when she felt her bare feet reach the cold pavement, feeling it run up and down her spine. "Hmm? How is it that you still say you can somehow find me a better life?"
"Because you did have a better life," he told her quietly, calmly setting down the cup of coffee, as he gently took hold of her, allowing his touch to come into contact with hers. Feeling the briefest of trembles from her as skin closed itself over skin, he smiled, catching her completely offguard.
"I'm not- this isn't even real," she began.
"You feel something. Just like you felt something when we-"
"Cole, there's no we. You're currently still a client- only a client, for that matter, and just between you and me, I don't want it to be anything more than that. Okay? I don't want you in the way you obviously think I do."
"Then why haven't you shut me out?"
"What?"
He let her go, lightly crossing his arms over his chest, his blues softening, as the faintest of tears clouded them. "Look at me and tell me what you really think. Look at me, Phoebe, and tell me to go away, and I will. I'll go, and you'll never see or hear from me again."
"Is that a joke?"
"It might be, if I actually believed you," he whispered.
Straightening her composure, she cleared her throat, abruptly rolling her eyes. "Fine. If that's all you want to hear, it shouldn't be too hard, right?"
"Or maybe I just made one of the worst mistakes of my life," he added. "Either way, I figured it couldn't hurt to try."
"Try?"
"For someone who apparently has everyone and everything she needs, you can be a bit dense some-"
"Nobody has everything they need, or else they wouldn't be here trying so hard to find it."
He nodded. "Exactly."
"Yeah, and even Clay doesn't know of all my indiscretions. It doesn't mean I don't deserve to be with him."
"I think you have it backwards," he commented quietly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Does he deserve to be with you?"
"Oh, that's rich," she managed, finally forcing a smile to the surface. "You hold me in such high regard, while I've got faults a mile long. I don't know who you are, Mr. Turner, but you sure know how to overlook what's really there. You might just also be the biggest idiot I know."
"And how's that?"
"By coming to my house this early in the morning and trying to make it count for something."
"That's not stupidity," he pointed out casually, "that's skill."
She studied him for a long moment, her heart almost nearly regretting the fact that she'd already had Clay blocked entirely from her memory bank as soon as she'd seen the face behind that door. Flushing slightly, she felt his eyes brush over her with a keen sense of amusement, the crimson seeping deep into her cheeks. The situation proposed something to her that she couldn't quite deny just yet, and she owed it to herself to see why curiosity was bent on allowing this man to repeatedly cling to her thoughts. "I'll go."
"I'm sorry?"
"I said, I'll go."
"I don't think my good ear is-"
"Oh, for God sakes, Cole! Enough already, okay? I'm going, I'll go, I want to go- and now there is nothing you can do to talk me out of it, buddy, so don't bother."
"And you'll tell me about Jake," he sided.
"If I can learn to completely trust you in the forty-five minutes it takes us to get there and eat, yes. Otherwise, you might consider flying south for the winter."
"Well, at least I've got time," he murmured.
"Thing of it is, I think I've actually been avoiding my sister more than I realized, and I was thinking of maybe stopping by to see her, you know? Maybe I do owe her something for the way I've been treating her, and I-"
"Is it about your pow-"
"Yeah, see- let's just pretend that last night all you saw was a poor, defenseless woman struggling to defend herself, or else it just gets a whole lot weirder than I planned on, okay?"
"So can I come in?"
"No, you cannot come in." There was laughter in her voice now, and she began to shut the door, glancing out at him from beneath the small inch of a crack that remained. "Just let me get dressed, and I will be with you in ten minutes. So help me, I still have no idea why I'm still doing this."
He tossed a half smile to where she had now vanished from sight, and somehow a small speck of hope had strangely repaired itself within him, the ache only half present, as he leaned casually against the siding, offering a tired sigh.