fic: Tower of Strength [PG-15] p 7/14 Highlander
Title: Tower of Strength
Author: A Lanart
Characters: Richie Ryan & Siannon O'Niall (OFC)
Rating: PG-15 (UK). (Probably an R in the US)
Warnings: Swearing, Angst and possibly disturbing subject matter.
Spoilers: Highlander seasons 1-3
Disclaimer: Davis/Panzer productions own the Highlander universe
Concepts and characters used without permission.
Original characters and ideas are Mine, so is the story.
No profit is being made off this by anyone, especially me!
Title courtesy of the Mission, from the song of the same name,
Summary: Richie's back in Seacouver after the events in 'Testimony', where he meets an *old* friend.
Part 7
Siannon managed to avoid awkward questions from people by the simple expediency of leaving the bag in a deserted office, with a note, but no contact number. She knew the owner of the office would be back shortly and made good her escape, sound in the knowledge that all the items would be distributed fairly. Back in the car, she sat for long moments just trembling, the reality of the situation at last starting to seep in, after being pushed back all day. She let the tears fall as she clung on to the steering wheel, wiping them angrily from her face. She remembered nothing of her journey back to Richie's place, unsure whether that was a good or a bad thing.
Richie took one look at her face and grabbed his jacket.
"You need a drink. Come on, we're going out."
"But..."
"Don't argue. Leave that." He indicated the bags, "You can sort it out some other time. Right now you look as though you could do with not feeling for a bit, I know I could. We'll probably regret it tomorrow, but who cares." He dragged her out of the door and down the stairs before she even thought of protesting again.
They ended up in Joe's. Richie put his bike at the back, he knew he would not be in any fit state to be riding home that night. The place seemed quiet, almost subdued, reflecting their mood only too well. They made their way to the bar where Joe was waiting.
"Siannon. Richie." He put a bottle and two glasses on the bar. "It's on the house."
Siannon looked up at him, into that kind and understanding face.
"Joe, I..." She shook her head, unable to express herself. He reached out to clasp her hand where it lay on the bar.
"Believe me, I know." With that he withdrew, leaving them alone. Richie snagged the bottle and glasses, leading Siannon to a table in one of the darker corners.
"Time for some serious drinking." She started to relax after the fourth or fifth shot and Richie felt brave, or perhaps foolhardy enough to start on the second phase of his campaign. "You never actually told me how you and Laurie met, you know." He said, while pouring himself another drink.
"You're right, I didn't. Predictably enough, it was through our music..." Siannon began to tell the story and her eyes were soon bright with remembrance and mirth; Richie was laughing helplessly.
"I can't believe he said that. Hell, I can't believe *you* said that."
"I wouldn't have, but I turned round to find him staring right into my eyes. He just gave me this *look* and I thought 'What the Hell' and opened my mouth. It was so funny. We both nearly got thrown out. After that we never looked back, we were inseparable, the best of friends and it stayed like that for a while."
"So when did you first realise you were in love with him, rather than just friends?"
"You'll laugh."
"No I won't."
"It's dead corny."
"So what. Tell me." Siannon stared dreamily into her drink, before giving Richie a lop-sided smile.
"It was the first time I heard him sing. His voice hit me in the gut like I'd been stabbed. Cupid and his frigging arrows had nothing on it. From that moment I knew.
That was just before we came to Paris for that exhibition."
"And the rest, as they say, was history."
"Yeah." She tossed her drink back, poured another. The bottle by this time was almost three quarters empty, and she had drunk most of it herself. Richie had managed enough to be pleasantly inebriated, but Siannon was well on the way to being totally smashed out of her brains. She looked at the bottle with a slightly befuddled expression on her face. "Have I drunk all that crap on my own?"
"Most of it, yeah."
"Shit." She grinned at Richie. "You're bad for me, Richard Ryan. I am going to have one god-awful fucking shitty hangover in the morning. Laurie'd fucking kill himself laughing." Her face fell slightly at the thought of her lover, but the smile stayed in her eyes. "Thanks Richie. I needed this. Your methods may be a little un.... un.... oh what the fuck... different, but at least you got me remembering the good times." Richie smiled back at her.
"Good... Siannon?"
"What?"
"I haven't heard you swear so much since I first met you." Siannon giggled.
"Your fault. You got me pissed as a fart, I always frigging swear when I'm drunk." With that she put her head down on the table and howled. He looked at her with concern, there was a slightly hysterical edge to her laughter.
"I'm going to call a cab, I think we should go." He said. She opened one eye.
"You might be right. I'm staying here until it arrives." She leaned her forehead on her arms and shut both eyes again.
"You do that." Richie wandered over to the bar, a little unsteady on his feet, but nowhere near as bad as he could have been. "Joe?" Joe heard the voice and turned round.
"Richie?"
"Any chance of calling a cab for me and Siannon? We need to go." Joe gave him the once over and then glanced over at Siannon, still sprawled on the table.
"You know, I think you're right. Sure, I'll call you a cab. Just do me one favour Richie."
"What's that?"
"Don't break your own heart while trying to keep hers together."
"I won't."
"Look, Richie. I know you. I mean every word."
"So do I. This may sound a little way out coming from me, but there's nothing there. Sure, I love her, but then I love you, too." Joe shook his head slightly after looking quizzically at Richie for a second.
"Now I know you're drunk. I'll get that cab. Take care of her Richie, but don't forget yourself while you’re doing it." Joe limped off to use the phone and Richie made his way back to his table and Siannon, shaking his head in disbelief at what he just said.
"You are not going to believe what I just said." He announced to the back of her head. She pushed herself up from the table and looked at him.
"Well?"
"I just told Joe I loved him."
"You never?"
"I did."
"Dagda's Balls! I think we better get out of here."
"My thoughts exactly. We'll wait outside for the cab." He gave her a helping hand to stand up, before wrapping an arm round her shoulders. He felt one of her arms snake around his waist and they weaved their way to the door, waving to Joe and a couple of others on the way out.
The cab journey was mercifully short, depositing them on the rain slick street outside of Richie's apartment block. They staggered up the stairs, providing mutual support, still giggling like children. Siannon managed to calm down after two cups of coffee and a pint of water. She smiled warmly at Richie from her position on the couch.
"Thanks for tonight, it was just what I needed. Sometimes I think you've got to be older than you really are, you're just too perceptive for your own good." He perched beside her, throwing an arm round her to give her a hug.
"I needed it too. Now all we've got to do is face tomorrow." She leaned into the hug, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm really not looking forward to that. At least I've got you to lean on." A yawn escaped her control; Richie noticed and pushed her up out of her seat.
"You need to go to bed. Go on. I'll be through in a minute to get the stuff for the couch."
Siannon was perched on the bed, wearing a pair of red tartan pyjamas, when he finally made it into the bedroom. She watched him thoughtfully as he gathered together the necessities for the night, wondering whether she should say what was on her mind. By the time he went over to give her a goodnight hug she had made up her mind. He had dumped his blankets on the bed, before enveloping her in his embrace. She returned the hug with affection, feeling warm and safe in his arms.
"Goodnight Siannon." He said quietly. He didn't immediately let go as she was still clinging onto him.
"Richie?"
"Mm-hmm?"
"Don't go."
"What?!"
"Don't go. Stay with me, please. I couldn't stand another dream like last night and I know if you're here I'm much less likely to have one." Richie took her by the shoulders and held her away from him, staring incredulously at her.
"You're asking me to *sleep* with you?" She ducked her head, hiding the slight twitch of her lips at his discomfort.
"Yes. And before you say anything, it's not because I'm still drunk. I mean it, seriously. I need you, Richie." She looked back up at him, meeting his eyes, her expression now completely sober.
"Well..ah.. that is.." He was gazing into her eyes, saying without words what he could not manage to elucidate. His concern for her, Joe's concern for him, his own sense of loss and need for comfort.
"Please Richie. I'm scared." She answered, her voice shaking slightly, eyes downcast. She felt vulnerable, exposed and intense need of the physical closeness of another human being. She could only hope that Richie would understand. He gathered her back into his arms.
"If this is what you really want, then I will. God only knows how much I wished I'd had someone to hold when Tessa died, but I didn't think Mac would have appreciated it."
"Then you *do* understand."
"Oh yeah, I understand all right. Only too well." He broke their embrace again. "Just give me a minute, I'll be right back." With that he stood up, picked up the blankets off the bed and threw them into the corner before rummaging round in his chest of drawers. He grabbed a pair of pyjama bottoms, disappearing into the bathroom to get changed.
Richie tried to analyse his feelings as he slipped into bed beside Siannon, and came to the conclusion that what he had said to both her and Joe was true. All he did want was comfort, to give and to receive. For once in his life his hormones were taking a very definite second place. In a few weeks or months he could well feel different, but right now all he wanted was what she had offered. Closeness. They settled into each other's arms with none of the awkwardness that could have been there and slowly drifted toward sleep.