Please see Chapter One for Disclaimer

FAMILY TIES
      By Spense
 

Epilogue

Jonny sat out on the steps of the back patio leading down to the
second level.  It was about two weeks after the final capture of Dr.
Lainer.  He was enjoying just sitting and listening to the soft
hubbub of voices, the noise of dinner being prepared, and the phone
ringing behind him.  The normal sounds of the busy family.

The early evening air had a salt tang to it from the breezes that
blew in off the ocean nearly one hundred feet below.  Jonny could
hear the waves pounding rhythmically.  He took a deep breath,
reveling in the feeling of the cool, sweet air in his lungs, with no
pain or tightness.  Amazing how the single act of breathing was so
overlooked, Jonny thought, taking another deep breath.  He enjoyed
the simple sensation of breathing without pain.  He still tired very
easily, and was getting irritated at the constant encouragement to
eat, but that was okay.  Just as long as he could breathe.

Will came out onto the patio and sat down beside him,
laughing.  "That was your father on the phone just now," she
reported.  "And that makes the 6th phone call since he left this
morning.  He was checking, once again, to make sure you hadn't
expired."

Jonny grinned, although he probably should have been irritated.  But
it was really kind of nice.  However, his comment in response was
more in character.  Shaking his head, he replied, "Doesn't he have
anything better to do at that conference?"

Will put her arm around his shoulders, laughing as she gave him a
hug.  "Humor him Sweetheart.  He very nearly lost you, and it scared
him to death.  We were all very worried.  And you have no idea how
much talking Race and I had to do to just get him to go today!  He
would only go if both Race and I stayed here with you, and he
insisted on coming back tonight.  Never mind that it would be at
least midnight before he would be able to leave New York.  Charlie is
flying him back.  There was no way we could talk him into staying the
night."  She shook her head in amusement.

"Poor Charlie," Jonny commented.

"Poor Charlie, indeed." Will agreed.  "We also had to promise that we
would faithfully have you back in bed after dinner, and that we would
get you to eat something."

She hugged him again and laughed as he wrinkled his nose in
irritation.  She reflected that it was a good thing that he didn't
know that neither she nor Race could bear to have him out of their
sight for long either.  Benton knew, and that was the only reason
they had been able to convince him to go.  She suppressed a shudder.
It was going to be a very long time before any of them wanted to let
Jonny out of their sight for any length of time.  It had been way too
close, and right under their very noses in a place they considered
safe.

Jonny rested his head on her shoulder companionably.  Together they
watched the sky move softly towards twilight in silence for a while.

Will broke the quiet mood tentatively.  "Sweetheart?" she asked
gently.

"Humm?" Jonny responded, relaxed.

"Why didn't you tell your father when you first thought you saw
Rachel?" she asked carefully.  Jonny had been working through these
issues with a psychiatrist, and in a separate session, Benton, Will
and Race had been told that they should begin drawing him out on the
subject.

Jonny tensed slightly, but Will just rubbed his shoulder
reassuringly, holding him close.  After a moment, he began to
speak.  "I tried," he said, his voice shaking slightly.  The hurt and
betrayal were clearly evident in his voice.  "The day I was late
coming up from the lighthouse.  And the next night when you and Dad
were in the library."

Will was glad that Jonny wasn't looking at her, and didn't see her
flushing face.

"Then I guess I just thought it was stupid.  I didn't know what to
do, but Dad was usually busy, or distracted.  It just seemed like
something always came up."  Jonny paused.  Will could tell how hard
it was for him, and that he was trying to be scrupulously honest.
She squeezed his shoulder again, holding him closer and waited for
him to continue.

"It's been like that ever since Rae was born.  The only time Dad ever
really had for me was on my homework.  And even then, he never had
time to hear about the results.  And he was always so short
tempered," he continued.

"Lack of sleep because of a new baby.  It'll do it every time," Will
explained.

"And missing you!"  Jonny said, laughter in his voice.  "You had to
sleep downstairs!"

"Scamp," Will growled as she lifted her arm to encircle his neck in a
loose chokehold.  "Any other reason?" she asked lightly.

"Well,"  Jonny said thoughtfully, then continued carefully as he
settled back onto her shoulder.  Will was glad he trusted her enough
to keep the physical contact while he explained.  "Dad had you and
Rae.  And he never seemed to have time for me.  I guess I really
hoped she'd be Mom, so I could feel like I belonged somewhere
again."  His voice had dropped to a low whisper.

"Oh, Sweetheart," Will whispered compassionately, kissing his
temple.  "Remember what I said to you in New Orleans?  Trust your
father.  He'll never give up you or the memory of his ties with
Rachel.  Rae, and myself, and Hadji too for that matter; we're just
newer additions.  Nobody ever takes another's place."  She paused a
moment, then continued.  "Your mother was a remarkable woman.
Beautiful and talented.  And I can't, and have no desire to take her
place.  I'll just make my own."  She could feel Jonny silently crying
on her shoulder.  She moved her other arm in front of him so he was
now fully encircled in her embrace.

"Will?"  Jonny asked shakily.

"Yes?"  She answered, kindly.

"Why did you try to save me that day on the cliff?  The time you
dropped your gun down, and told . . . Dr. Lainer to take you instead
of me?"  His voice was shaking and nearly inaudible, and Will could
tell what it was costing him to ask this question.  He was so afraid
of the answer, dreading that it would be for his father's sake
alone.  Jonny continued.  "I'd been so awful to you.  Really rotten.
I mean, the things I'd said to you.  I didn't mean them. . . I really
didn't," he said in a rush.  "But like Mo . . . I mean, Dr. Lainer
said, wouldn't you rather just have me gone?"

Will kissed the trembling boy lightly once again, then answered
softly.  "No, I wouldn't rather have you gone.  I am not Andrea
Lainer, nor am I anything like her.  I would have traded myself for
you in a moments notice, because you're you.  I couldn't bear the
thought of life without you.  You're an integral part of this family,
a part of the whole.  I love you Sweetheart."

Jonny was sobbing in earnest now.  "But how can you?  After
everything I've done?"

Will hugged him tighter.  "Because you are you.  And you are your
father's son.  I really don't need any other reasons than that.  If
you were gone, there would be a huge hole in all of our lives,
impossible to fill."

Jonny looked at her is astonishment, his azure blue eyes even
brighter than normal with tears.

"Serious?"

"Serious," she answered firmly.  "And if you think about how much I
have to put up with Benton, you'll realize you're not so bad!"

Jonny laughed at that, as she had intended.  Then, as Rae's cry split
the evening air, Jonny started to pull away so she could go take care
of her.

Will however, just pulled Jonny closer.  "She does have the Quest
lung power," she commented wryly.  Then as Jonny didn't relax, she
whispered softly to him, "We have a big family, Sweetheart.  Race or
Mrs. Evans can take care of Rae.  Or for that matter, Jessie or
Hadji.  Right now, I just need to be here with you."

As Jonny collapsed wordlessly back against her shoulder, sure enough,
Rae stopped crying.  Will continued quietly, reassuring her
stepson.  "All the children I ever needed or wanted were you, Hadji
and Jessie.  Rae was just an unexpected bonus.  Remember, love can't
divide . . . it multiplies.

She felt Jonny finally relax completely.  As they watched the waves,
she held him tight, not wanting to let go.  Like Benton, after coming
so close to losing him, she valued the time with him; with all the
kids.  She knew Race felt the same way.

Gently, she began humming, and felt his smile against her shoulder.
And together, they just watched the sea and the early evening sky in
peaceful companionship.
 

~fini~