second chances part 3
Part 3 of ?
Summary: Racer X has more than his share of secrets. But when one he thought was deeply buried, comes to the surface; will he admit to the truth before it’s too late?
Pairing: Racer X/Minx; Rex/OC
Rating: R for violence, adult themes, and angst.
Disclaimer: This was written for the sole purpose of my entertainment. If you recognize a character it doesn't belong to me; I simply borrowed them, twisted their existence, and returned them.
“I just came from the hospital. I know who she is…” X said; his voice barely a whisper.
X’s confession was shocking to say the least. Minx's eyes widened, the unspoken question, prompted him to continue.
“Her name is Arianna Montgomery. She’s older than what you guessed; she’s actually ten years old. The bone deformity is a birth defect; although, I’m not sure if it affects her walking. Her mother’s name is, or maybe was, Vanessa Montgomery.
“Did you know Vanessa?” Minx asked quietly, there was obviously more to the story than what X was letting on.
“I’ll put it this way, Rex Racer did.” X said, carefully emphasizing his former name.
“Do you know anything about Arianna’s father? Maybe we might be able to locate him?”
“Minx, Arianna’s father is…” X started to respond, but was cut off by David coming into the office.
“Minx, X, I need to see the two of you in my office.” X’s stomach tightens nervously, as he wonders if David has found any new information about Arianna.
“The DA has set a meeting with later this afternoon; in regard to the bust yesterday. I think it would help our case if we could present a more complete list of charges rather than just the warrants. So I need the two of you to go to the hospital, and see if you can’t get something from the girl as far as who she is or what her connection to Cobb is.”
Minx glanced at X to see if he was going to say anything about him already knowing who the girl is. But all she saw was the same blank expression that X would use when he had nothing to say.
X didn’t say anything as he followed Minx out of the office to her desk so she could get her purse and the small recorder out of her desk. Once she had gotten her things, X lead the way to the elevator to go down to the parking garage under the building. Walking to X's street car, they climb in and X begins the drive to the hospital.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Minx asked as they drove to the hospital.
“Talk about what?”
“You know what. You’ve been as jumpy as a boxer in the ring since yesterday. David asked us to interview Arianna, specifically asking for any clues to her identity, and you just stood there; you didn’t say anything about knowing who she is. And now you act like you would rather sell the Shooting Star, than do this interview. So are you going to just tell me what’s going on, or do I have to keep questioning you until you finally crack.”
X turned the car down a side street, apparently taking the long way. Without warning he suddenly pulled the car over and put it into park. X continues to stare out the windshield for a few moments before he takes a deep breath and says:
“You asked me earlier if I knew anything about Arianna’s father; I do. That’s part of the problem. I do know who he is. But it’s not going to help Arianna any, since officially his identity can never be revealed; and what I'm about to say can never leave this car.”
“What do you mean?”
“Her father is legally dead.” X’s voice is blunt, but Minx picks up on the emotions underlying it.
“Minx, Arianna’s full name is Arianna Nicole Montgomery-Racer. Vanessa and I decided to have it placed on her birth certificate that way. But after that, Racer was immediately dropped from her name so people like Beneli wouldn’t be able to find her. Arianna might not even know what her full name is; I don’t know if Vanessa ever told her or not.”
“But that means Arianna does have family.” Minx said as she laid a hand on X’s arm. “Why wouldn’t any of them report her missing; I can’t imagine the Racers…”
“They don’t know about Arianna.” X said cutting off Minx’s question. X was still staring strait out the window so he didn’t see Minx’s eyebrow rise in the silent question. It didn’t matter though as X answered it anyways.
“Vanessa’s father didn’t allow her to date, but we had began to fall in love our senior year of high school. So in order to see each other, we would go out to a place out in the mountains outside the city. It was a place where Vanessa would often set her telescope; I would meet her there and we would have the night to ourselves. I never told my family, because we never wanted Vanessa’s father to find out about our relationship.” X paused as he seemed to be searching for the right words to say.
“When I left home, Vanessa had been able to move out on her own. And even though it was dangerous we continued to see each other. By that time though, we had perfected the art of sneaking around to be together. The necklace Arianna wears, I gave that to Vanessa the last time I saw her. I don’t know how Arianna got it, but I have the feeling Arianna wouldn’t be wearing it if Vanessa is still alive.” X said his voice thick with emotion.
“The last time I saw Arianna, she was two months old; it was right after the Casa Cristo. When I left, I had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t see my daughter again. Now imagine my shock when I find her in the position she was in.” With every word, X’s voice becomes more and more hoarse, as he seems to be losing the battle with his emotions.
“A part of me wants to know exactly what happened to lead her to where she is; if her mother is still alive; and if she isn’t: what happened to her. And a part of me doesn’t what to know. Knowing that it will be too hard to deal with the fact that: because I wasn’t there for her, she was hurt in ways I don’t even want to think about; and fears anyone that she comes in contact with.”
“It’s ok, we’ll get through this.” Minx said as she moved her hand to X’s shoulder. As she rubbed his shoulder, Minx thought about what X had just said. In all the years of knowing Racer X, Minx had never seen the pain he carried inside him.
X finally looked over at Minx. It was the first time either of them had mentioned them being together on a personal level. Surprisingly, it did make him feel slightly better that Minx didn't seem to care that he had a ten year old daughter that he had never mentioned. X decided then that Minx was right; they would get through this, he just wasn't sure how yet.
With a curt nod, X put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb and down the street.