Deoxyribonucleic Acid

[Doc]

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November 27, 2014
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It had been just over a week since he started running the DNA through the National DNA comparative database. If Doc were going to be in business to run comparatives through criminal databases, he would have purchased dedicated equipment for the task. But he wasn’t in that business. He was in the business to run comparatives of known samples. It was a completely different set of variable and time constraints. This was not a fast process. And in this case, it was even slower, because his set up was geared differently. He was not about to restructure his whole business based on some skinny redhead’s impossible pipe dream of finding her birth parents from hair left in an old hairbrush. However he said he would do it and by god he would, and she had better shut the **** up when it came back negative again.

Phoenix expected miracles. She wanted to know who her parents were. Great. Wonderful. Absolutely. But she had nothing to go by. Just an old hairbrush and list of people that she kind of remembered from her childhood; with names she ‘thought’ were correct. And after he had those names all run down, the only ones that could be found, were dead. Because they were junkies. The chances of him finding her birth mother or father was slim to none in the best of situations. The chances him of finding a match in the situation currently…? Impossible.

But Phoenix didn’t want to hear that. Oh no. ‘He’ wasn’t trying hard enough. ‘He’ wasn’t giving it his full attention. ‘HE’ was the reason she didn’t know who her parents were. She was living in a dream world. Doc sighed. He didn’t know who Phoenix had bribed, slept with, or murdered to grant him access to the National DNA Data Bank of Canada, but she had secured access and he was dutifully running her sample through it. For over a week now, the system had been tied up. He had other jobs that needed that system. He was ready for this to be done.

Over a week and he was only one third the way through the data bank. He was almost tempted to pull the plug on her job, and do some real testing. Testing that would have viable and discernible outcomes. Testing that would be paid for. He would tell her it came up negative, she’d never know the difference. He glanced at his watch, it would be another several hours before this batch finished and he would need to reset it. Ariadne had texted him about a raid earlier. He could use a few hours of gratuitous violence. He headed to his office to change clothes and then headed out to the raid.

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December 7, 2014
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The raid had been exactly what he needed. A way to let off steam without upsetting the spawns, the employees, or anyone else that wanted to make or take issue with his abrupt personality type. He had actually spent time in the raid with with one of the spawns, and then with Mortll. He managed to mend things with Carmen; and Mortll had seemed pleased by his presence, so all in all it had been a good night. He left the raid before it was was ‘officially’ over, but he had gotten what he wanted. An outlet for his frustrations with the added bonus of making amends with a spawn.

Early the next day, Doc made his way to the lab to check on the findings from the night before. He had fully intended on stopping the rest of the search when he left yesterday, but over night he knew he could not stop. He had made a promise to Phoenix, and as ******* annoying as she and her impossible dream of finding her birth parents was, he could rest easy that he had done everything possible, ‘if’ he continued. He would present Phoenix with a stack of ‘negative match’ batch file print outs. Then hopefully, that would be enough to shut her the hell up for a while.

Stopping in his office first, he hung up his jacket up and donned his lab coat. Heading out to the lab, his mind was preoccupied as he hit print on the DNA comparison readout report, before moving on to the DNA sequencer to turn it on, as he prepared it for the day’s tests. He was setting the machine to the proper calibration when the printer stopped. At first it didn’t register with him that the printer had stopped; but after a moment it did. He straightened and glanced at the printer from across the room. There were only a few sheets in the output tray. A print out of the negative match batch files were close to thirty pages each.

Sighing, he headed the supply cabinet and grabbed a ream of paper. He unwrapped the paper as he headed straight towards the printer, once there he opened the tray, only to find it three quarters full. Doc sighed again. Why couldn’t things ever be easy? The printer was not that old. He had just added a new toner cartridge two days ago. ****. He had not planned on dealing with a fucked up printer today. He had things to do. He glanced at his watch, Jane would be in, in less than an hour. He would let her deal with it.

Jane was punctual. Doc looked relieved. “Jane! Take a look at the printer, will ya?” He said it in a tone that made Jane look at him funny.

“Alright.. Let me hang my coat up.. Dr Impatient…” Jane shook her head, that man needed to relax, it was her turn to sigh, ‘Jane’ was really Rachel. She never made an issue of it, because her paychecks were always correct. She moved over to the printer and looked at it. She picked up the print out and started to read it. “Oh wow! Congratulations Doc! Here I thought you were annoyed.. I didn’t know it was a celebration!”

Doc stopped, turned and looked Jane pointedly.

Rachel aka Jane gave him a look right back. “This is the one that we have been working on for weeks right? And you finally have a match. I would have thought you would be a ‘bit’ more excited, after all this time.” She grinned, “Ok.. an unknown sample might not be what the client expects.. but hey.. the numbers don’t lie..”

Doc returned her look evenly as he silently put the pieces together. The printer wasn’t broken. It didn’t fail to print the batch file.. it printed the results of the match, a much smaller file. He had presumed the printer was broken, because he had not expected to get a match. He hid his surprise.

“Do you want me to file this in the client’s file, and give the client a call?” Rachel asked.

“No. Run it again. I want to make sure it is a match.” He told her as turned back to the sequencer, then as an after thought, “And if does match.. Pull the file on the matching DNA. Before we talk to the client, I want as much information as possible.” Because he knew Phoenix would not let rest until he answered everyone of her myriad of questions.

Rachel should have known that would be the answer. “Alright..” She sighed and then realized it was a criminal data bank, “Holy ****! .. I mean.. pardon my french.. this is a criminal database! Our client is related to a criminal!?”

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December 14, 2014
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Rachel was literally fidgeting in her seat waiting for her employer to show back up at the office. She had some explosive news to tell him. Plus she was hoping for a ‘kudos Kid’ from him, for using her initiative in getting that explosive news. It wasn’t like it was that hard to get the information, but she did do it on her own, that had to count for something right? The fact that she has been obsessed with this case since she found out their client was related to a criminal, had nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.

It had been several days since Doc had even made it into the office, he had things come up with the faction that needed his attention. But now that was taken care of, he was playing catch up on Cases at the Solutions and the Lab. He had barely gotten in the door at the Lab before Jane had jumped in front of him demanding his undivided attention. He gave her a look that would curdle fresh milk, but it had no effect on her. He sighed silently to himself as he braced himself for the next installment of Jane and Dysfunctional Boyfriends.

He was surprised however, when instead of launching into the some half intelligent diatribe about needing time off to rescue some halfwit boyfriend, she shoved a DNA report into his hands. He started looking over it, as she hastily explained, “That is the second set. Yes it is a match to our client. A very close match. My guess.. father, brother or uncle, since it is a male DNA sample…” She looked so proud, she was about to expound when he stopped her.

Doc looked up from the report, his brow furrowed with frown lines. “No. You never guess. You work in fact. Only in fact. No guesses. No suppositions, No ballpark assumptions. Fact: It is male DNA. Fact: It is a close match. What does that mean? That means it could be a father, brother or uncle, but it is not conclusive by any means.” He eyed her carefully, “Do you understand?”

Frustrated with him, for interrupting, Rachel grudgingly accepted that he had a point, and decided to use it against him. She stood on tip toe and reached over to point out an area on the report. “See this code..” She dimpled at him, “.. this code corresponds to the police department that sent the sample to the national database.”

She slapped a sheet of paper on top the file he was holding, “Fact. This code corresponds to the police department listed here. Fact. That’s right! It is the Harper Rock Police Department.” She practically bounced in place as rushed on before he could speak. “So I called a friend at the Harper Rock Police Department and asked for the file, and..” She practically squeaked, “Here it is!” She flipped the second file open to page she had previously marked. “Fact: Our client’s father is a suspect in a double homicide!”

Rachel plopped a fat murder file on top of the sheet she had previously slapped down. “What do you say to that,Boss man? I did good huh?” She grinned up at him. “I did, didn’t I?”

Doc closed the file and tucked it under his arm and he perused her for a moment. “This friend, what did you promise them?” his voice bland.

Now Rachel’s bounce became a bit of a squirm. “Dinner.. I have to go out to dinner with him, Friday night. But it’s not big deal. I mean. It’s not like it was a classified file, or anything.”

“No. You promised him, you would go to dinner since you were late getting him the authorization requesting this file.” Doc told her slowly and meaningfully.

Rachel frowned slightly, “We don’t need an authorization.. we already have it.”

“Yes..” His voice took on an admonishing tone, “.. we have the file because Harper Rock Police Department graciously gave it to you regardless of the fact you carelessly left the authorization here at the office. But you are going to take the authorization to him, right now. And by way of apology, you are having dinner with him on Friday night.”

Still frowning, “Alright.. Fine. Why are you being an *** about it?” Rachel asked. She was so sure she was going to get a pat on the back.. but no. Her happy mood was becoming quite deflated.

“Because if you go to court to offer testimony, you have to show chain of evidence. Complete with dates. I am sure you have documented in your work journal all the pertinent dates for this case?” He lifted an eyebrow questioningly.

Rachel’s eyes widened. “Court? We may have to go to court?” Her eyes got wide. How exciting!

Doc shook his head, “Not ‘we’, you. This is your case now.” He tucked the file under his arm. “But I do need to read this.”
Rachel was on cloud nine. “Me?! Court..? Just like on CSI! This will look awesome on my resume!”

Doc gave her a look, “Resume? You are thinking about quitting?”

Rachel looked horrified, “Not now! Well at least,.. not until after the court case!”

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"


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December 15, 2014
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Phoenix: [t] Charles. Your office. Meeting. Now.

Doc: *Text* I am in my office.

Phoenix: After receiving the text, Nix bounced over and let herself. A smile on her lips, she skipped over to one of the office chairs and plopped herself down, looking far too pleased with herself. "Hi."

Doc: He lifted an eyebrow, she was far too happy. "Hello Phoenix, you are.. looking chipper. Do you need to use the incinerator?"

Phoenix: "I do not need to use the incinerator," she cooed, leaning forward and propping her elbows on his desk. Her chin was cupped in upturned palms as she stared at him, fluttering her lashes. "Anything you want to tell me?"

Doc: Doc looked at her, his brow slightly furrowed as he tried to work out what she was talking about. "I had the oil changed in my car earlier."

Phoenix: She nodded once, giving another flutter of those long lashes. "Mhum... Annnnnd? You didn't get a text from someone, did you?"

Doc: He shrugged carelessly, "I get texts from lots of people.. Klara.. Carmen.. Ari.. Vel.. Help me here.. what am I missing?"

Phoenix: "Pyyyyper..." she suggested, waggling her brows. "You're coming to a certain party with my precious childe?"

Doc: Doc smiled, "Ah Lucretia.. I did get a text from her. " He didn't answer her question. "I find her rather adorable."

Phoenix: A brow arched at him, though her grin didn't waver. "Rather adorable? Can you elaborate on that, Dr. Nilson?"

Doc: Doc grinned in reply, "I can indeed, I have that ability. However, I do not wish to." He paused, "Oh.. by the way Jane has some news for you."

Phoenix: Her expression didn't falter even though he was being an *** intentionally. "I think you should elaborate," she cooed. "What news does Jane have for me? I'm here, you can tell me."

Doc: "Jane found a match in the National DNA databank." He smiled pleasantly.'

Phoenix: The party forgotten, the smile fell from her face as she stared at him. Very slowly, she sat up straight, those honey brown eyes going wide. "You found my mom? Who is it?"

Doc: "Father, uncle or brother. Who happens to be a suspect in a double homicide." He paused, "Unknown suspect."

Phoenix: Her eyes narrowed as she eyed him. "You're saying my father uncle brother is a murderer? Seriously!? Just my ******* luck to end up spawn of a goddamn psychopath..." Her lips pressed into a thin line as she sat back, arms folded over her chest. "Did you pull the cold case file?"

Doc: Doc tried really hard not to smile, "I didn't,.." it was a valiant effort. He opened a drawer and pulled out a file. "Jane did however." He offered her the file.

Phoenix: She took the file and opened it, though she wasn't entirely familiar with police jargon, and so she stared at him expectantly. "Jane pulled it, but you're now intimately familiar with it. What happened?"

Doc: "Double homicide. Victims were malnourished and emaciated. Wounds were on the victims were caused by an unknown caustic agent."

Phoenix: "Caustic agent? Like... acid?" she blinked, flipping through the photos. "So... extended confinement and torture, followed by murder?" Her face twisted as she scanned the dates on the files. "This was a case from the s?"

Doc: "No. This case was from . From right here.. in Harper Rock. Were you here in ?"

Phoenix: Maybe it was the typewriter font that made her think of her childhood. But this was recent... her lower lip caught between her teeth. "Yeah, I was here. I left Toronto in '. Why?"

Doc: "Then you were both here at the same time..." He shrugged. "You could have passed him on the street."

Phoenix: She snapped the file shut and let it rest on her lap. Her eyes flicked up to meet Doc's so very suspiciously. "You're running the unknown sample through the database, aren't you?"

Doc: Doc looked at her, "It's already been run through the database. That is why it is there..."

Phoenix: "Yeah, but this was run years ago. There might be new... leads?" she suggested, eyeing him. "Why the hell would you just toss murder dad/father/brother at me!?"

Doc: "Don't forget uncle...." He nodded sagely, "It is also a viable option. And you said you wanted to know. Don't you remember us having this conversation? That you may not like what we find. And did you really want to know?"

Phoenix: "Serial killer isn't a name!" she protested, clearly annoyed. "I want a name, mister! I want a dad that I can talk to, not a case file!" Glaring, she smacked the file against the desk, though lightly.

Doc: "Think of it this way...we're one step closer." He couldn't help the grin, "If we catch him, you can see him on visiting days in prison.."

Phoenix: She stared at him, perfectly deadpan. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."

Doc: "I am here for you.. and your money..." He had the gall to wink.

Phoenix: That deadpan stare didn't improve in the least after the wink. Her lips pressed together and she gave a shake of her head. "How much do I owe you?"

Doc: "Upwards of four grand.. are you dismissing me?"

Phoenix: "No. I'm asking for a bill detailing costs to date so I can pay you," she smiled, fluttering her lashes again. "I want you to find my father uncle brother."

Doc: "I will have Jane bring it up to date."

Phoenix: "Thank you. Is there something you're not telling me?" There usually was…

Doc: "Not at the moment."

Phoenix: Her eyes narrowed and she set the file on the desk. "Not even about Lucretia?"

Doc: A passive smile, "Particularly about Lucretia."

Phoenix: "Charles," she warned, arms folding over her chest. "What are your intentions with my childe?"

Doc: "That would depend on Lucretia."

Phoenix: "Explain."

Doc: He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged carelessly, "I do not know what she has planned. Until I know that.. I have no idea what my intentions will be."

Phoenix: Her hand came up to rest on his desk, nails clicking against the top. That wasn't an answer. "Would you sleep with her? **** her?"

Doc: "Not while I am seeing Mortll.."

Phoenix: "Mortll's about as relevant as a tic. You'd drop her in a second if Ari would take you. Or Karina."

Doc: "You are welcome to your opinion."

Phoenix: "Am I wrong?"

Doc: "Yes you are."

Phoenix: "Why are you with her? She's inferior to you."

Doc: "I am not discussing this with you."

Phoenix: "You totally are. Why not? Please?"

Doc: "I will not. It is rude. It is not your business. It is between she and I."

Phoenix: She arched a brow, eyeing him suspiciously. "We're friends. Friends discuss these things."

Doc: "Not when you are obviously antagonistic toward her. Which you have shown you are. Would you wish to discuss Blake with me, if I disparage him and say he is by far .. so very beneath you?"

[Phoenix]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Phoenix: Her smile didn't shift in the least at the parallel he drew. One leg folded over the other and she leaned forward to eyeball him more closely. "Does my opinion of your relationship affect it? Why does it matter to you?"

Doc: "There is no good to come from my discussing her with you. Except that perhaps, you could twist what I say for some unknown reason. Ultimately as you said, your opinion will not change my relationship. So why discuss it? It is a moot point."

Phoenix: Her lashes fluttered at him innocently. "Friends discuss relationships."

Doc: "So why are you with Blake?"

Phoenix: "He pushes me to be the best me I can be, and he understands my... hesitations because he's dealt with his own. He had a relationship about as shitty as mine in the past, so we're both interested in something good."

Doc: "Wrong. You should have said, 'None of your ******* business. Boundaries.'"

Phoenix: She shook her head, smirking. "Nope. I shared, so you should share. Is Mortll a good ****?"

Doc: "**** yes."

Phoenix: A brow arched as she eyed him. "Anal?"

Doc: "No thank you.. I don't want to know you that way."

Phoenix: "Why? That's what friends do. Are we not friends, Charles?"

Doc: "You may do anal with your friends.. in that case I would prefer to be regulated to acquaintance status."

Phoenix: Her jaw literally dropped as she stared at him. Sitting back in her seat, she gave a slow shake of her head. "I meant you and Mortll. Not me - you're too old for me. I'd worry you'd break a hip or die of a heart attack."

Doc: Doc held up a hand, "Cat is out of that bag.. and that's not my scene. I promised to be monogamous .. and I have a feeling your anal romps would be considered beyond the pale.. so let's just say we are acquaintances and leave it at that." Then he stopped and tilted his head to the side as he contemplated then said, "I heard Pratt is into that sort of thing.. "

Phoenix: She just stared at him in utter shock for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Nope, friends. I think Pratt's entire person qualifies as an ***, so any kind of sex with him would be anal."

Doc: "True..very True."

Phoenix: "Why are you thinking of Pratt when sex comes up? Do you have a man-crush?"

Doc: "No. Shall I describe my thought process? Fine. You are into anal. I try to be supportive of you; so I think anal.. which leads me to 'asshole'; which leads me to 'who is bigger asshole than myself..'" He gives her a look, "Since I have no desire to do you anally. Therefore I think Pratt."

Phoenix: Her only reaction to all that was a single blink and a droll "Why the **** do you assume I'm into anal? And... oh my god, as if I'd ever sleep with you. We've been over this - old. You're old enough to be my grandfather."

Doc: "Because you were the one that brought it up. Why would you bring it up if you weren't? A Person's mind goes to what they know." Regardless of how much she defers, he will remain convinced it is her secret obsession and should it come up in conversation, he may feel the need to share it.

Phoenix: Her eyes rolled. "I have a natural curiosity for all kinds of things, anal included. Doesn't mean I'm crazy about it. What weird **** have you done?" she asked with a flutter of her lashes. "Since we're sharing."

Doc: "Define Weird."

Phoenix: "Freaky. Crazy. Murder might count, depending on what fuckery you've done."

Doc: "Murder? Is it murder if one was trying to 'help' someone and they died regardless?" He looked at her. Was he going to tell her that he experimented on humans in an effort to make a super soldier? Of course not. But it would be something that might be considered 'weird ****'. He remembered when he first started with those extra-curricular activities. How he used to removed the appliances when the experiments died and then poured hydrochloric acid in the wounds so that the forensics teams couldn't trace the blade pattern.

Doc: Doc stilled. His eyes went to the folder that sat on his desk. Memories were now filling in the blanks that were in the police record. He stared at that folder. Aw ****. No ******* way.

Phoenix: Her head cocked to the side as she eyed him. "You mean medically? Like they died during surgery or something?" Feeling like she was on to something, she leaned forward and propped her elbows back on his desk. She saw his eyes flick to the folder, and in that moment, knew for certain there was something he wasn't telling her. "I'm sure you've got some weird stories to share."

Doc: "Or something,.." His tone was absent, his eyes never left the folder. Then finally as if memory was not enough. He flipped open the folder and flipped to the scene recreation document. He reread it with a cleared understanding. The recollections and memories slotting in the details that never made it to the file. "****..." The word was uttered softly in disbelief.

Phoenix: Well, that was weird. Studying his reaction, she leaned in just enough to stick her nose over the top of the folder, trying to see what it was he was seeing. Of course, all she saw were the crime scene photos and reconstruction. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Doc: He reluctantly looked at her. He was not admitting **** without a definitive test, to conclusively prove. He blinked, "I'm sorry? I got lost in thought.. you were saying."

Phoenix: "I was asking what you were thinking..." she repeated uncertainly, brow furrowed in concern. "Are you okay? You... look a little weird..."

Doc: "I need to make some calls. I have to go to Toronto, it seems." His voice was absent, because he was trying to justify the fact there could be two similar crime scenes, in the same location, in the same year..same burn marks.

Phoenix: Suspicious, she reached over to poke the back of the file. "You just now realized you need to make some calls and go to Toronto over my case...? What is it you thought of?" Of course she didn't realize what a touchy subject this would turn out to be.

Doc: He snapped his full attention back to her. "It may be nothing. I wont know until I return from Toronto." He moved to the door and removed his jacket that hung there. He shrugged into it. "With luck.. I will be back tomorrow."

Phoenix: She gave a slow, confused nod. "Alright... I guess I'll get back to work and pester you tomorrow. Drive safe." Still weirded out by his behavior, she shrugged. Twenty-four hours wasn't the worst wait she'd ever experienced.

[Doc]

==================
December 16, 2014
==================

Doc was allowed entry into the restaurant, only after he showed his id, and the maitre d matched it to the guest list. It seemed his mother’s taste for exclusivity was still in rare form. A waiter that was wearing a tuxedo better than the one he himself owned, showed him to the table where an impeccably dressed and coiffed older woman sat sipping a martini. As they approached, the woman caught sight of them and smiled regally, as though she were about to address her adoring public.

“Charles..my dear!” A dainty porcelain complected hand reached out, just far enough as manners would dictate as she oozed charm in Doc’s direction, “I have missed you so.”

Doc took the proffered hand briefly and bent to place a chaste kiss on the older female’s cheek. “You are looking as lovely as ever, Mother.”

“How kind of you darling, I know I look a fright. The years have not been kind.” She demurred fully expecting to be told she was wrong, of course. A delicate hand holding a silk kerchief dabbed at her mouth.

Doc took the seat opposite her, and laid a wrapped gift on the table. He knew he should give it to her, but he also knew the game she would play. She take it and sit aside and ignore it, until he would reference it. Then she would remind him it was garish and churlish to force an issue, especially about a gift. So this time he would set it aside and ignore it, until she referenced it. He also refused to brush aside her comment. “If you weren’t feeling well you should have told me.” His voice hinting that perhaps he did find her appearance wanting. “I could have postponed.”

“Postponed?” Evelyn Nilson’s voice had a petulant edge to it. “I have not seen my son in five years. You would think you could make more of an effort to visit! Your father and I aren’t getting any younger you know.”

Doc smirked ever so slightly, but enough so that his mother saw it and caught herself. He could see her visibly force a smile back on her face. “Now.. what do you feel like eating? They do a divine rack of lamb here.” She was once more the charming hostess.

“As I said on the phone Mother, I have already eaten. But please, do indulge yourself.” A polite smile.

“You know as well as I, that is impolite to eat in front of someone not eating.” The words were said with smile, but with a distinct chiding overtone to them.

“Then perhaps you should not have suggested a restaurant. I did tell you I had already eaten. I was quite content to meet you at the house.”

Evelyn flicked a hand and a waiter was immediately there. “Bring him martini..”

Doc countered, “No do not bring me a martini.” He gave the waiter a forceful look, before turning back to his mother, “I do not drink, Mother.”

“Since when?”

“Several years now, Mother.” Said in a manner, that would give someone overhearing the conversation, the impression, this was old news, and the woman was being difficult.

“Fine.. bring him a coffee.” Evelyn waited until the waiter was gone, and looked at him pointedly. “I see your manners have still not improved. Etiquette dictates you defer to your hostess. However,” She paused to sip her martini, “it is for the best that you don’t drink. Your father is mean when he drinks. I would imagine you are too.”

Outwardly Doc maintained a passive expression, but inwardly he was counting and envisioning a bullet going through her left eye into her brain. “Perhaps. But I have never had any complaints. Or been taken to court over it.”

“Really Charles. Must you bring that up? You know very well that was a bogus charge.” Evelyn sucked in a breath, as she attempted to calm herself. “Why must you be so difficult?” She hissed at him.


“Because I find it amusing.. and I am ******* ********?”

“Charles! Your language!” She nearly squeaked in outrage, as she quickly turned to make sure no one overheard that. She glared daggers at him.

Doc smirked crookedly, “I have quite the vocabulary of colorful metaphors. But are you sure you want me to indulge here.. of all places?” Purposely goading her.

“I can see you aren’t even going to try to be civil. So perhaps you should tell me why you wanted to see us after all these years?” Any pretense that she was happy to see him was gone.

“You, Mother. Why I wanted to see you. Not him.”

“He is your father Charles. I will not have you disrespecting him in my presence.”

His comment was forestalled by the waiter returning with his coffee. So Doc opted to acquiesce to her, tipping his head briefly before saying, “I’ve come to tell you, you are a grandmother.”

“You’ve gotten married?!”

Doc winced, he rather overlooked that she would make that automatic leap. “Yes that too. But we are separated.”

“Separated.. already? Why!?”

“Oh She was ******* a colleague of mine. I never learned to share well as a child.. it’s gotten worse as an adult.”

“I despise that word Charles! And you know it!”

“Yes.. yes you do. That must be why I enjoy it so ******* much.” He relaxed back in his seat and crossed his legs comfortably.

Evelyn had hoped he had come wanting to fix the breach in their relationship. It was clear to her now, that was not at all something he was yet willing to do. But she was a grandmother now. She would just have to give it time. He would see the wisdom in his baby knowing them.
“Boy or girl..?” She was once more in control of her voice, and countenance, appearing at ease at the situation she found herself in.

“Girl.”

“A granddaughter.” Evelyn was genuinely pleased. “I never thought you would have children. I must say I am pleased, Charles.”

Doc slid the present over to her. “Her photo.”

Evelyn needed no second invitation. The present’s wrapping was quickly dispatched as she eagerly looked forward to receiving her first look at her seeing her granddaughter. The smile faded. “Charles I don’t understand.. Is this ...your wife?”

Doc shook his head, “No, that is my daughter.”

“Charles,.. this is not a child.. this is a woman.”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I see the obvious, is not lost on you. Her name is Catherine.”

“Lovely name.. I believe she has my eyes. With the proper attire, she could be stunning.” Evelyn sipped her martini absently, as she looked at the photograph of the young blond woman, smearing her lipstick.

Doc leaned forward, saying softly, “You have uh smudged... “ he pointed to his mouth, as though to say she should fix her makeup.

“Oh ..oh dear..” Evelyn immediately stood, Doc followed suit and moved behind her to pull her chair out and adjust it for her. “I will just be a moment.” While she hurried toward the ladies restroom, Doc pocketed her silk kerchief and napkin.

---

Doc endured another hour of his mother’s company, trading barbed insults and innuendos before he was finally able to make a strategic withdrawal. And though he half expected his father to show up unannounced, he was pleasantly surprised when he did not. Once back in his car, he secured the kerchief and napkin into a specimen bag, and labeled it, then he began the four hour drive back to Harper Rock.

The return to Harper Rock felt like an eternity. He outlined his actions step by step in his mind, once back got back to the lab. He would sterilize the equipment before he started. He run the diagnostics after that. Then he would prepare the specimens. He would run a baseline. Then he would isolate, amplify and then replicate all the samples, ending with the DNA sequencing. If all went well, by daybreak, he would have his answer.

[Pyper]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

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Early AM December 17, 2014
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Pyper: Her fingers tapped away at the screen. They appeared more agile, an energy rejuvenated in a place it had known before. The text message read: "I am not far from your building. I was hungry and the packs don't taste the same." An announcement of her location that served as a reminder to them both that they had a meeting. Charles had more than likely expected her presence tonight. So it better recalled prior plans in her favor, rather than in his.

Doc: Receiving the text, he replied "They do taste like ****. Be careful."

Pyper: "I will try. When will you be free?" She could take her time hunting. Find the right human if he had her wait long enough. She could prove to deserve a fresh fill of blood, than stagnate blood that tasted like plastic.

Doc: *Text* Take your time. I have some case studies I need to update. *He hit send. He would tell her later that Phoenix somehow found out he was taking Lucretia to the party and grilled him over it.*

Pyper: Her stomach roared its approval as her eyes roamed over the lines of text. "Okay. Let me know when." The phone falls back into the pocket of her jacket. The bristles of faux fur stabbed into her skin. She put the hood it outlined up over her head. It helped a little. The hungry Altaire's abdomen curled inward with a thirst. It sometimes made her reckless.

Doc: Meanwhile Doc had just returned from Toronto where he had stolen a sample of his mother's DNA. He had just finished replicating and had started to sequence it, when Lucretia had texted him. He did fully intend on working on the case studies. In fact this was a case study if ever there was one; however, no one would ever know the details of it, if the results came out as he hoped and prayed they would.

Pyper: Pyper's hunt were split. Half of the time she could make out with enough blood to make her stomach appear distended. Then others where her gaunt manner exaggerated with a hunched over figure of the blond. Hunger doubled her over with its incessant pangs. Tonight, she will indulge in the adrenaline inducing act of prey versus predator. Her eyes landed on a man. He was bulky but not obese. It was his scent she followed; the aroma of a saliva provoking meal. Lucretia began to tail him, letting the quirks come out. She played into a role people placed her in; she is Pyper the Fragile Girl.

Doc: Normally Doc would not be anxious for an outcome of a routine DNA profile. Normally. But this evening, he was. This evening he would could either rest easy and laugh at himself over the past 24 hours, or he could brace himself to become intimately acquainted with hell. The latter was not his first choice. For the third time in the last five minutes Doc checked his watch. Time was crawling slowly past.

Pyper: The man turned around every so often. She asked herself how he could sense her, he could not possibly hear the cushioned scuff of her moccasins. At a crosswalk, he stopped. No one else had continued to the outskirts of the city as the two of them had. His height was a tower that clouded even the streams of moonlight that acted as spotlights. They were void of any beams of reflected light. Pyper wouldn't be able to reach his neck. Her tactics frenzied, waiting for her to peck at the right one. How do other people hunt? Height counted under her unacknowledged list of disadvantages.

Doc: Time slowly rambled on. And even as he tried to re-occupy his mind with something that had always worked before, not this time. He ended up putting the files away to go stare once more at the sequencer as though that mere action of him standing there watching it, would make the process speed up. Even now realized the futility of his hope. Over the last 24 hours more and more details of that event came forward from the recesses of his memory. He even remembered one of the experiment’s name. Not because he cared, but because as the experiment was dying he mumbled repeatedly, ‘My name Peter Johannson and I was here.’

Pyper: The facade worked. His guard relieved itself at the mere sight of her meek self. She fidgeted, and did not practice her speech with the weight of wanting to perfect the enunciation of every syllable. He asked if she was lost, where her parents were. By her size and the maintenance of youth, age repelled from making her appear anything over twenty. He hunched down to be more towards her height. The way he spoke, the minor angle of his head. "Stop moving, please. Stop, stop, stop." The last set of words chimed to the rhythm of a strong heartbeat.

Doc: It used to take days to profile DNA. Now DNA can be sequenced in hours. It was the advent of PCR Amplification for small samples that allowed for the huge leaps forward in the world DNA. Doc knew he would have his answer before the sun rose again, but he still could not help but think how long it was going to take. And there could be issues. Had he rushed the PCR amplification in his haste for an answer? If so all this time was wasted. He chewed on the inside of his lip. Yes, it was clear his next step was to redo the PCR amplification. This time he would use the napkin, not the kerchief. He donned a new set of latex gloves and got to work.

Pyper: His eyes held a gloss she only knew hers to hold. Hers and Nevaeh's; they were two dreamers in a monotonous horror show. They were main attractions of unique proportions. His lull in movement, open throat constricted twice with a pound of the blood coursing through the fibrous veins. It registered a craving, a divide in what was safe feeding and what wasn't. Her jaw unhinged so wide that it hurt the fixtures that held it all together. Her teeth elongated, pinpoint curvatures to facilitate with ideal puncture wounds that gave optimal mouth fulls of her sustenance. He wouldn't live, not this man. Not tonight. Several resurfaces showed his neck muscle chewed beyond the healing capabilities of humans. He'd bleed out before she could let him onto the ground post-consumption.

Doc: This time he carefully checked and double checked the PCR amplification each step of the way. It was with since of dawning horror that he knew that hope fading. More and more details became vivid reminders. That had been his .. crime scene. That wasn't where the deaths had happened. Oh no. They had happened here at the lab. Before it was a lab. It was a research facility then. But that scene was his dump sight. He had destroyed the tool marks with acid, so that there would be no ready evidence of the body modifications he had made. It had worked only too well. Because he had succeeded that time, his work escalated.

Pyper: Disposal of anything larger than a domesticated canine can be risky and for a woman Lucretia's size, an obstacle due to the bulk of the human carcass in comparison to her own. He wouldn't be very heavy; carrying him was an option but it gave a tremendous show of her strength. A freakish use of a body half the size of the thing it toted above it. Something as extraordinary as that was noticeable. Questionable. She laid him down, very tender to the muscles seizing with rigor mortis. Disposal is a problem. Her solutions were sluggish to produce options; maybe she should call Charles. Someone to help move the body.

Doc: There was nothing left for him to do now, except to wait for the DNA profile to finish and generate a report, and wait for the amplifier to finish. He looked at his watch again. Other nights the time flew past, but not this night. it crawled on ancient slow arthritic feet, plodding at a snails pace. He needed a distraction.

Pyper: At a corner of a hardly used intersection, a lithe blond pulled a phone from her pocket and the screen's light flashed. Not only for humans to spot but officers. Authorities that were few of the only ones patrolling these types of roads. As a text, Lucretia wanted to convey the seriousness: "I have an accident!!!!!!!!!"

Doc: The blessed sound of his cell receiving a text broke him from the circular destructive pattern of his thoughts. He pulled the cell out of his pocket and read it. He straightened immediately. Not bothering to text, he called her. He had a feeling she disliked speaking on the phone, but an accident? She would have to get over it. He waited for her to answer.

Pyper: Click. It's similar to the click that the recorder made just before her periods of verbalized, self reflections. Her journal entries. They should have come with her, for Charles to listen to. He had not been privy to her exact mental processes since reading the pen on paper. She should have brought it with her. ".. I don't, know. What to do. With the body. We don't have, streetlights. But four streets are around. Where do. I put it? The body, Charles?"

Doc: "Is there a sewer entrance close to you? If yes drop it into the sewer. If not, Pull it into the shadows, get a street name, I will come help you."

Pyper: There's a rustling from her end. The phone's speaker scratched into her coat as she made a hurried lap in a neat cut square to look for a grate. More static-fashioned white noise. "No. No. I don't, see one. Not a grate. No hole. I was just, hungry." Her shoulder balanced her phone to her ear and both hands pull his arms to drag the deceased somewhere else. The edge of the forest. She wouldn't stay long. The Fae might pry open her throat again. "I went to. The woods. Three blocks. West. Four north. Of your building. No sign. "

Doc: "Alright, I will be there in two minutes.. Do not go to far into the woods. Two minutes." He disconnected, grabbed his keys and headed out to his car. The engine roared to life, and he lost no time circling the block, so that he would be heading west. Going three blocks, he then headed north. He slowed the car and pulled over at the appropriate location, He got out so Lucretia would know it was him. He popped the trunk.

Pyper: Headlights flashed and exposed the roots she leaned herself and the body into. An earthly crevice of wood and vines. A head slowly drifted into view. A doe with a startled blink. "Charles, should, I bring him out?" Had there been anyone else on the roads his vehicle wove around on?

Doc: Doc located her as he tracked her voice back to the source, "Yes. bring him on out." He lifted the truck lid, and then headed toward her, closing in he saw the body was quite large. He looked at the body, then Lucretia and then body, "Damn. You brought that down all by yourself?" He grinned, "Here let me get him for you.." He forward to grab the corpse by the belt, "Are you unhurt?"


Pyper: Another, close inspection of the organic anchor. Her eyes held no emotion in regards to the human. The fact that it was a human. Their origins had begun in a nearly identical path. Somewhere, hers veered off. It deviated. Now she was this, she ate from things that looked like her but weren't. "People, see me. As a, small thing. Weak thing. I have, better. Understanding now. Of what I can, find. In here." A finger tapped to the male's temple as the rest of him was dragged out. "I am not, hurt. No. I'm sorry," she added the last part because everything is reversed and restored with an apology. She learned that, too.


Doc: Doc hefted the body and carried him and then dumped him into the trunk and closed the lid. He moved to open the passenger side door for Lucretia. "Hmm why are you sorry?" He gave her an amused look, "Sorry that you killed him? Or sorry that you couldn't hide him yourself?" He searched her face for signs of panic, as he waited for her to get in the car. "In the future when you feed, have your dump site already picked out. Make sure there are multiple ways of egress and exit. You do not want to get caught in a dead end."

Pyper: Should she have been sorry that she killed that man? When they dumped him, she'd memorize the area and come back. His parts - some - were still valuable. No. Lucretia wasn't sorry, she wouldn't be if she could have his parts. Roman still needed a present. Calix, too. A fresh harvest was required for both. "That, I couldn't, hide it. Myself." With the turn of her head, her eyes bore down a row of trees. "Do, fae eat, humans?"

Doc: Doc shut Lucretia's door and got in on the driver side. "give it some time, you're still young yet. But you do need to be careful, you do not want to get caught." He put the car in gear and started driving toward the water treatment plant. "As far as I know, the fae leave humans alone. They do not like us however. They will attack up given the chance."

Pyper: When her back hit the cushioned interior of his transportation, a hand closed over her throat. "They, found me once. I was, waiting. Looking for things. Materials. Couldn't, speak. Several days. Not, with my mouth." There had been other ways around it. They were more invasive, maintained more risk of being incidentally attacked but there were other ways.

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: "I have never been attacked by the Fae. I have heard they are pretty vicious in their attacks. So I am pretty pleased never to have had that particular pleasure.' he paused, "Where were you when they attacked you?"

Pyper: "In the woods. Near where, the bears are. Wolves. The cabins." It had been the night she retrieved a series of unknown roots. It had been a miniature quest to seek another hobby. One that didn't mean taking work home with her. Something go be a healthy divide. "I have, had a lot, of wounds."

Doc: "I am sorry you were attacked. Phoenix should have warned you.. " He then decided he better warn Carmen.. just in case she didn't know already. He was a ******* lousy sire. He pulled into a gravel lay by near the water treatment plant. He pointed through the windshield, "That is the water treatment plant. You can wait here.. I going to go drop our friend into the septic holding pond." He exited the car, and opened the trunk. He pulled the corpse out of the trunk, hoisted it over his shoulder and headed into the darkness.

Pyper: Patience was still a virtue as fleeting as a jarred dove. It fluttered and lost its ground. The door on her side groaned and with an extended arm, it was thrust out allowing her to flee the enclosed man made machinery. The ground circling the water treatment plant were grimy. They were a decay on Harper Rock. How many lefts had brought them here? How many rights? Better attention of would be paid on the way back. Each worn bottom of her favorite pair of moccasins crunched on dried grass. It was quiet here. Pyper wasn't sure whether she enjoyed this eerie hush over the waters or not. Her feet carry her around to explore the outside areas of the structure.

Doc: Doc dropped the corpse to the ground and roll it so it was on it's back. Pulling a pocket knife out of his pants pocket, he flicked it open. Feeling for the diaphragm of the body, he inserted the blade cutting the abdomen open all the way to the top of the groin. Pulling the knife free, he inserted it again at the same diaphragm area, following and cutting along the lowest rib, first on one side, then the other. Withdrawing the blade, he then eased the body into the ooze. He did it slowly, carefully, so there would be no tell tale splash.

Pyper: Charles' venture beckoned for her to trail after like some lifeless ghoul. Her arms swung when she stalked her unconventional therapist. He was hunched over as the distance closed. It smelled like animal; at home this was how her butcher's block smelt. Electrical hums interrupt her thoughts and Charles never made more noise than he needed to. It's a lash of her mind. A way for it to tunnel itself into a secure conscious. To plant it's voice; her voice. Without exercising her jaw muscles, the internal, and one sided conversation was initiated. "Charles, where did, you learn these things? It is not, common." That much was stated within the borders of being factual.

Doc: He turned, to see Lucretia silently watching him. Doc winked at her while closing the pocket knife and dropping it in the pocket of his lab coat. He had left the lab quickly, not collecting a coat, so the cold was beginning to chill him. He stepped closer to her rubbing his arms in order to create friction and warmth, and said quietly. "Years of practice. Slicing the gut open, allows the gas of decay to escape, less likely are the chances of it floating too quickly. The bacteria in that soup will play havoc with a coroners report should it be discovered too quickly." He rubbed his hands together. "Let's not tell Phoenix about this..hmm?"

Pyper: Not tell Phoenix? What if she asked her about the time she spent with Charles? Normally her sire seemed suffice with anything she said. Her explanations and the details that fleshed them out left holes for certain events to fall through. Maybe omitting choice events would be possible. As long as she said everything else that happened. "Should I, know these things? For times. I hunt."

Doc: Keeping his voice low, he motioned for her to head back to the car, "It would not hurt. Especially if you kill a lot. I can be aggressive when I feed and not realize that I have gone too far. When you go too far, you need to know how to mitigate the chances of getting caught." He stopped talking and looked at her for a long moment as though judging whether or not to confide in her. He took the chance. "I have an incinerator that I can use as well. not the one at the lab. A different one, in the sewers. It's big."

Pyper: With legs that had imitated the likeness of stone, Lucretia remained very hesitant in leaving. Not only was she leaving behind a hands on lesson but her materials as well. She had to pay attention in the car. Not let her vision blur and be too obscure, never taking in check points. She'd come back, and retrieve whatever she needed. Finally her leg picked up, pushed out and took the very first step to the car. "Here? This, is a common place. To hide, the mistakes? Other people, use it?" There could be more down there than she initially imagined.

Doc: Doc tucked his hand into the crook of her arm, in an attempt to speed her up on the walk to the car. He was cold, he wanted to get back to the car and crank heat up. "I would imagine so, however, I have no solid proof. I am sure if you wanted to use it, as long as you can sink the body you should be fine. You do not want to have to come and re-submerge a body though. I have a strong stomach, but ****, that will make me lose my lunch."

Pyper: Charles wouldn't like to see her work then. The birds for Phoenix's cage had been particularly messy on the butcher's table. Some of them hadn't died right away either. Those ones had been worse. Her feet shuffled quickly. To meet his pace and his hand's non-verbal insistence. "I, will remember." It, like everything else she took part in required diligence and practice. Gutting a human may not be so different than the birds. Just bigger pieces. Her hand came out several steps prior to her circling around the car to her side. "I made, my, guitar. From a human. Its head." It had deformities. The male she had chosen in question. Her affinity towards the broken called her hunt to him. She didn't want to make him, share what she did with Ethan, with this one. She just wanted to make him something else. Another form of eternal.

Doc: "Really? The skull bone?" He paused, "How is the resonance of such an instrument?" It wasn't something he would have thought about doing, as that wasn't his interest. However, the process she went through could be interesting. He glanced back over his shoulder toward the cesspool and smirked slightly. "I didn't realize. My apologies."

Pyper: "It's balance, is off. It needs, improvement. I have plans, with my sibling. To convert it. Use, the inside to. Make it electric. That, gives us, time to look at everything. Test, it all. For my, bigger experiment." Her head craned, and she looked back, too. "There is always, more materials." Then there showed an expression that was a rarity in her repertoire. Pyper's mouth twisted with a pleased crooked cornered smile. One could have said that the unsure edges promoted a devious quality in the schizophrenic. The Ward had documentation of that ulterior version.

Doc: "Do you have a place work?" he asked as they reached the car. He opened the door for her, and shut the door for her before he got in. "I ask .. because I may.. have a place you might might be interested in."

Pyper: Her apartment counted as a place. It wouldn't be appropriate to take humans there. Kill them there. Too much mess and Ethan wouldn't approve. His position in his old life may not allow him to forgive murder. That was how it was viewed. "For most, projects. I work, at home. At Roderic's building. For the company. Only when, I don't want. Distractions." Her hands clasped together, held tightly bound in her lap. She sank in her seat. "What, place?"

Doc: Doc started the car, "I have a Dwelling in the sewers.. by Gullsborough. It's best to be described as a makeshift lab..." He looked back to make sure there were no cars, then he backed out. "I have not used it in a while. Plus I have the big lab. If you're interested, you could use it. All I ask is that you clean up after yourself... that means leave no witnesses."

Doc: ( http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img537/4144/E6Hr1A.jpg )

Pyper: The pair of eyes that had glazed over during the ride to the plant sharpened. They needed to mark the journey. She could start at Charles' building and trek from there. "When, we get back, can I write. It down?" Roman wouldn't be able to come. He couldn't know either. They confided in one another. These details that were to be omitted. He had already stated; Lucretia hoped it would be returned in regards to her guitar's foundation. Phoenix hadn't seen it yet. "No witnesses." The impediment was strained out by the way she drew out the last word.

Doc: Doc nodded "Yes, of course," he turned the car back to the direction of the lab, "Just be mindful that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Some people can be nosy bastards." His face reflected a pleased look. Lucretia was someone that wasn't horrified by his extra-curricular activities. He didn't mind sharing resources with those that truly appreciated it. He found that he was able to relax finally. The last 36 hours had been stressful, soon he would have his answers. He would deal with that fall out .. then.

Pyper: "When, did you start?" Beyond the countless thoughts that piled on top of one another, a grappling ethereal struck past the physical body and the very firm corporeal barriers of skin, muscle and bone. The appendages prodded, plucked through memories. It couldn't reach far enough. Lucretia's mind retreated from invading the private parts of Charles life. Her outside body remained alert, mapping out every corner and street. How did a person become immersed in a world that involved the proper methods of disposal?

Doc: "When? 1981. I was seventeen. I was rash, clumsy and reckless. I was ******* lucky I did not get caught. I had close calls. But I learned quickly that things had to be planned. Dry runs to perfect the event." He pulled into the parking lot of Genesis Labs. He parked and shut the car off. "Never think you are smarter than anyone else. There is always someone smarter. When you get cocky you start making mistakes."

Pyper: It was well known to her that the gaps in her knowledge were a downfall that ticked away, awaiting a catalyst to reek repercussions unbeknownst to her tampered imagination. "Many people, have things. For me to learn. I, need to learn. A lot more. I've been, watching people. Observing, concluding." One of the hands unbound from its partner. It curled around the handle to open the door. "It is, harder to, predict. Something, someone. Unique?" Phoenix said constantly that that was what she was. In matters of intelligence, she may have fallen short. Her advantage was her perspective of reality. Her unpredictability and her logistics.

Doc: "Precisely. Routines have foiled more criminals than evidence." He exited the car, he went around to open the door for Lucretia. "The more random you can be in your actions. the more it throws anyone off that is trying to track you." He offered her his hand to help out. "Random is better than unique. Unique makes one think of 'one of a kind'. Better to be random, the very unique." Of course he didn't realize why she chose the word unique, if he had he might not have offered that last comment.

Pyper: Tipping her head back, a cascade of loose blond coils fell behind her shoulders. Her hand rose up, fitting into his and gripping the support the same way her mind tangled itself within the mazes of other's. "But, if you are both," her mulling began aloud and then trailed off, the more internal modes overworking with generated scenarios. "I could, be both." She straightened herself out once fully outside of the car.

Doc: Doc nodded. "If you are methodical in leaving no traces.. yes.. it could create quite the conundrum." He offered her a smile, leaned forward and whispered, "That would make it fun." He shut the car door behind her. "But that also can be a two edged sword. Never act in haste. Thing everything through. 'If I do this.. what will happen? Alright. But what if I do that..? then what should I expect?' I try to predict someone elses next action.. so I know how to be random. So that I know how to take the path .. least expected."

[Phoenix]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

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December 24, 2014
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Doc: *text* At some point in the near future.. we need to talk .. you and I.

Phoenix: [t] Am I getting another raise?

Doc: *Text* No. About the DNA results.

Phoenix: [t] oh god. Good!

Doc: Doc: *Silence*

Phoenix: [t] Good, right?

Doc: *Text* That is why we need to talk.

Phoenix: [t] is this something I want to do tonight?

Doc: ****. She would have to ask that.. *Text* No Probably not.

Phoenix: [t] that means bad news. I'll come to your office later. If you're free.

Doc: *Text* Yea I am the mall,.. **** me.. I’m shopping. I will be back there in an hour I hope.

Phoenix: She nodding despite the her sense of foreboding. [t] Can you summon me when you get there?

Doc: He pressed his lips together. *text* Yes.

Phoenix: [t] Thank you.

======
Later
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Doc: He texts Phoenix, *text* Is now a convenient time to summon you? *Yes. He specifically asked her, so that she would -hopefully- learn there was an etiquette involved when summoning someone.*

Phoenix: Was it ever really going to be a good time for this conversation? Probably not. [t] Yeah. Summon away.

Doc: Doc summoned Phoenix to the Lab, not Solutions. He had been at the lab sewing up Carmen, who had just gone head to head with Ripper when he got news that Minx kicked Ripper’s *** all the way to the Shadow realm. So Yes, he was feeling a bit smug. His spawns had fight. And he ******* liked that. But now he had to tell Phoenix the news. **** him. He had played this moment over in his head time and again. Every ******* time it ended badly. Well if she killed him, he could always torment Ripper in the Shadow Realm.

Phoenix: She'd been expecting a summons, but the surroundings to which she was pulled were wrong. This wasn't Doc's office at Solutions. This wasn't anywhere she knew. Those honey brown eyes focused on her boss and she blinked. "Where am I? Are we?"

Doc: Doc was cleaning the medical examination room, when Phoenix appeared. He was preparing the instruments that he had just used for the sterilizer.
"You are in my Lab. Med room one." He tossed the used bloody gauze and other disposables in the hazardous waste container, before stripping off his gloves and tossing them as well. "Thank you for coming." His voice had a hint of resignation to it.

Phoenix: Her head tipped to the side, a strand of hair falling over her eye. Reaching up, she pushed it aside and squinted at him, clearly suspicious. Why were they here? More importantly, why did he sound so... Was it sadness? Her eyes narrowed. "What did you did out about my... Heritage?"

Doc: He took the bull by the horns, "Remember I said you may not like what I find out? Imagine it.. eternity.. knowing this horrible thing you wish you didn’t know. But I promised I would tell you regardless of what I found out. I am asking you to release me from that promise."

Phoenix: She stared at him in blatant confusion, wondering what the hell it was he could possibly have discovered that was so bad he didn't want to share. He loved tormenting her. Usually. Nix shook her head. "No. I want to know."

Doc: ****. Which scenario should he go with? Which one? ****! In this scenario she agreed she didn't want to know! He reached over to the desk pulled the file. He laid it on the examination bench. He opened it up to the correct page. "This sample is yours." He laid a sheet beside it. "This sample is your father’s." If she looked at it long enough she would see the name "Evelyn Nilson".

Phoenix: Inching over to the desk, she stared at the open file. Okay, one of the pages of gibberish was her sample and the other bunch of jargon was her supposed father's. Her eyes scanned the page for a name and only came across one - Evelyn Nilson. "My father is a woman?" She asked, perfectly deadpan. "You really shouldn't have taken up this DNA testing business."

Doc: ****! She was going to make him spell that **** out to her. He sighed. "My mother's name is Evelyn." He didnt want to spell it out. She wouldn't believe him. He didnt want to believe him.

Phoenix: Those honey brown eyes bored a hole in the man standing there in this stupid lab setting. The longer she stood there in silence, the more those eyes narrowed until she could barely see him through the haze of thick lashes. "Are you seriously going to ******* stand there and give me the I am your father spiel!? What the **** kind of sick joke is that!?" she hissed, hands clenching into fists. If she didn't clamp down on herself, she was sure she'd throw a punch.

Doc: “This is why I said.. RELEASE me from the ******* promise!!" He snarled right back "Do you think I am THRILLED? **** NO."

Phoenix: Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stepped closer, hands unclenching only to twitch towards the gun tucked against her hip. "You know what the only possible thing worse than that actually not being the filthy ******* lie it is?! It being true and you, the sick **** you are, NOT being thrilled you have a ******* daughter!," she shrieked right back. "Micah found out he had Zoey and despite exactly how much of a **** up that sad little **** is, he still loves her!"

Doc: "Oh I should be thrilled .. to have a daughter that ******* hates me?! One that thinks I would **** an innocent like Lucretia? One that thinks I am sick mother ******* sex deviant? I should be thrilled by this?! **** you!"

Phoenix: Her mouth fell open and she wanted to scream at him. She wanted to rage and hiss and snap until the sinking feeling in her stomach subsided and the hole it left was filled with righteous vindication, but no. The redhead swallowed her anger and turned back to the files. She didn't quite understand everything, but she did see the similar DNA markers as they were laid out. And apparently some mitochondrial DNA link between Evelyn and UNKNOWN SUSPECT. After a few long moments of study, she set the file down and rounded on Doc. "How long have you known!?" she hissed, taking another step closer, rage radiating off her in tangible waves. "How long have you suspected? How long have you had to try to stop being an *** and working things out to maybe get to the point of this not being... horrible!?"

Doc: He counted. He was ready for things to go bad. He KNEW they would get worse before they got better. "Late on the th I had a match. I ran it again. by the st I knew for sure. Without a doubt." he still couldn't say the words. "You looked too happy at the party. I didn't want to ruin that for you." He raked a hand through his hair. "I was going to wait until after the holidays to tell you.. but.." he stopped. No explanation why he stopped. He just stopped.

Phoenix: "But what!?" she stared at him expectantly, "But you thought it'd be more fun to ruin Christmas!?"

Doc: "I was fucked if I didn't tell you.. I was fucked if I did." He was tired. "I made you a ******* promise.. and that.. ******* promise is the only reason I am telling you now!"

Phoenix: At the end of his words, the shadows in the room began to twist and writhe. Of course she was angry, and hurt - what else was she supposed to feel? Taking a measured step back, Nix closed her eyes and counted. When she swallowed, clenching her jaw and reeling in the anger she felt, the shadows settled. When she finally had the courage to look up at him, frustrated, angry tears brightened her eyes. "I don't know what to even be more upset over - the fact that you decided to tell me now or the fact that you don't even ******* care." Her tone was surprisingly soft, considering how much she felt.

Doc: In all his iterations, this one never came up. Care? What the **** did she mean? Not care? If he didn't care would have have made himself half sick the last ******* days?! If he didn't care.. would he have kept his ******* promise?! Everything he has done.. was because in his way.. he did care! Oh sure he was never going to be 'the Brady Bunch Dad' she wanted. So why should he ******* try? He knew he lost as soon as he told her. He sighed. "I think You should be upset that it is me. Period. We will agree to never discuss it again."

Phoenix: Her eyes bugged a bit as she stared at him, a faint twitch developing at the corner of her lip. "You're serious? You're ******* serious... this is like some kind of nightmare. I wanted a family... maybe someone I could get to know. But you're just excellent at keeping me at arms length - I've tried, really hard, to be your friend and you just don't want that. You want to pretend this didn't happen? No. **** you. You know what you're going to do? You're going to suck it up, accept you donated sperm and be a responsible goddamn adult about it."

Doc: What the **** does she want?! First shes pissed cause he told her.. then shes pissed cause she knows the truth.. so he gives her a ******* OUT and she slaps it the **** away?! He was at a loss. What did she want from him? Picnics? Tea parties? That was not going to ******* happen. He would not do that. That would be fake and nothing more than lip service. He warned her .. warned her she might not like what she found. He was Right god damn it! Why couldn't she just ******* accept that?! "What the **** do you want?!"

Phoenix: "What do I want? I wanted a dad that, god forbid, cares about me. That I can hang out with, have fun with occasionally. Maybe be friends with because we're both ******* adul--" She cut herself off mid-thought and stared at him. "Why the **** did you give up your daughter?" It was said coldly, without a shred of intonation.

Doc: "Because I didn’t ******* know about you until four days ago!" He seethed, "You think I would have walked away.. willingly? You have no ******* clue! I have always wanted a daughter! Always!" He stopped. He paced as he held his head with both hands. He finally turned back to look at her. "You make fun of me because I rename people. I do it.. Because I think if they were mine..what would I name them.. So **** you on your preconceived notions."

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Phoenix: Her only outward reaction to that was a slow blink as she processed. A few moments later, she leaned back arms folding over her chest. "So... you wanted a daughter... you now have one. And you're not happy." She frowned faintly, turned away to hide the hurt she knew would be so very evident in those warm brown eyes. "I'm not good enough. What happened to my... mother...?"

Doc: "I dont know your ******* mother." His voice was tired. "Been wracking my brains trying to sort out who she would be. No ******* clue." He slowly turned to look at her, "And I never said -I- was unhappy.. I knew -you- would be. I know what you think of me."

Phoenix: Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I think exactly what you've led me to think," she informed him. "You haven't wanted me to like you. I do anyway, otherwise I wouldn't ******* work for you. Or talk to you."

Doc: "Oh really? It isn't to spy on me because I might secretly **** Lucretia behind your back?" He gave her a disbelieving look "And don't bother to lie. Your prank the other night made it loud and clear what you think of me.. so try again."

Phoenix: "I don't care if you **** Lucretia. I just like taking the piss out of you because it's so damn easy - you get all riled up SO easily. And I wasn't spying on you, I was worried because I was talking to her and she didn't reply, for fucks sakes."

Doc: "You should give her some credit. She ******* smart. And cagey." He counted. "Why do you have to do that ? 'take the piss out of me', huh? Why.. Unless you ******* enjoy it? You ******* enjoy making me look bad.. and feel like ****?"

Phoenix: "I didn't think you cared. You don't seem to care, so why should I act like I do?" She shrugged, glancing around the room for someplace soft to sit and coming up blank. "I didn't want you to think I was pathetic for actually... you know... caring about you. Because I do. Why is this place so *******... sterile?"

Doc: “Its a ******* lab.. it is supposed to be sterile. And for the record, " He pinned a hard look on her, "I do ******* care. I dont know who your mother is. If I did I would tell you. If I had known.. you wouldn't have been on foster care; though you might have wished for foster care."

Phoenix: She flinched. That one hurt more than she'd ever admit. Her tongue ran over her teeth and she sighed, shaking her head as if to clear away the thoughts she certainly did not want. What would life have been like if she'd had parents? Biological parents... or at least one biological parent. "Musta fucked a lot of gingers," she muttered bitterly. "Why would I have wished for foster care?"

Doc: "Because I am ******* ********.. as you well know! I would have ******* killed all your boyfriends. They would have disappeared never to be seen again. So maybe you should be happy.. I wasn't around."

Doc: "And while we are on the subject.. I am not ******* thrilled with Blake! He fucked over Zoey.. what is to say he wont **** you over, huh?"

Phoenix: Nix couldn't help it - she burst out laughing at the comment about Blake. "We've been over this - that whiny little **** is a whiny little ****. Blake's not going to **** me over because I know exactly what he's like. I mean... maybe he will **** me over if he tells me the truth about something and I keep nagging at him and guilt tripping him for months while he tries to make amends for something he didn't even do." She paused, tipping her head. "I wouldn't do that, because I actually love him."

Doc: He wanted to tell her that nagging didn’t work. That nagging actually turned men against women, not the other way around. But well he knew she would not believe it. "Fine. I don't like him. And I doubt I ever will. If you happy with him. Great. I never will be. Just so we are clear. He is not good enough."

Phoenix: She clenched her arms more tightly over her chest, knowing he wanted to argue over something. Maybe he wanted to defend Zoey and retort against the behavior she'd described as Blake's ex-wife's, but she didn't care. "He's perfect for me. Trust me on that one - I think I have enough experience with shitty relationships to keep a good one when it comes around. He makes no demands on me, he accepts me for who I am, and he's always been supportive. And you know what else? He's had faith in me when I've not had faith in myself. If you want to pick at something, don't pick at him. He's been my rock through... a lot of ****. I mean, I think you have, too, just in a way different way. But... you never renamed me." It was an observation, phrased as an accusation.

Doc: He pressed his lips together. He had renamed her. He merely wasn't sure -now- was the time to bring that up. Knowing her, she would have an issue with it and make him regret telling her. So he decided not to tell her. "Fine. I wont say anything until he fucks you over. But then you have to listen and tell me I was right."

Phoenix: "If," she made sure to emphasize the word, "If he fucks me over, I'll even apologize for not listening and let you know you were right." She gave him a look as if she'd just agreed to a fair trade. "The name?"

Doc: "That is fair.. " he nodded once. "Dont even try to ******* forget you agreed to it either.. because that wont ******* work." He ignored the bit about the name. He wasn’t going to tell her. She would hate it. And she would say he made it up.

Phoenix: She tapped her foot and stared at him, waiting for the elaboration of the name that never came.

Doc: "What?" He wasn't telling her.

Phoenix: "The name, Charles. What was it? Is it?"

Doc: ****. ****! ****! "Boudica." The name said through clenched teeth. He glared a glared that should have killed mortals.

Phoenix: She blinked once, twice. "What... is that, even?"

Doc: "See?! I knew it!" Why did he even try?! He glared at her, "Boudica was a Celtic Queen who went up against the Roman empire. Happy?"

Phoenix: She frowned, eyeing him, "I've never heard of her, so I asked... I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I... kinda like it."

Doc: His first reaction was sarcasm. But on reflection, he decided, that since she offered an apology, he could be forgiving.. "She was impressive. Her husband was killed.. the king. The Romans tried to take the land from her daughters... who the king left as his heirs. The Romans raped and tortured her daughters. So she rallied the people to rise against the Romans. For close to five years she bested the Romans. When she was finally captured, she drank poison to take away their win."

Phoenix: "She kinda sounds like a vindictive ***** pain in the ***... to the Romans," she grinned, offering a flutter of her lashes. "I'll take it as a compliment."

Doc: "She was strong. The odds were against her and she didn't let it stop her."

Phoenix: Yes. she decided that was indeed a compliment. Nodding, she let out a sigh and wandered through the room. "So... you're... really my...?"

Doc: "Yes." He nodded, "I am."

Phoenix: "And you think what about it...?" she stopped her pacing for a moment to glance up at him.

Doc: "I haven't Really thought much past telling you and dying .."

Phoenix: Her head cocked to the side as she finally took up residence against the wall. "You're not dead - Merry Christmas. I guess that means you've got time to think about it and let me know."

Doc: "yea.. well .. I need a week.. "

Phoenix: "You need a week to... what?"

Doc: "Gut reaction.. I always wanted a daughter. Current reaction? I didn't expect her to be ******* GROWN."

Phoenix: She frowned faintly, giving a slow nod and even managing a faint smile. "I'm a child at heart, promise."

Doc: "You realize no one will believe us.. the odds are against it.”

Phoenix: She shrugged, "Does anyone believing it matter?"

Doc: "Not to me. You...?" He gave her a look, "Yes.. it will."

Phoenix: Scowling, she pulled out her phone and quickly sent a text. "Why?"

Doc: "Because you have a need for affirmation. The whole reason you had -the- meltdown.. is because no one saw things from your point of view."

Phoenix: She shot him a glare. "Maybe. We'll see. They can't exactly argue with DNA."

Doc: "And how many times do you want to have that argument? really?"

Phoenix: "Which argument?"

Doc: "No.. he's not your father." "yes he is" "Prove it." "here.. DNA report" "I don’t know what that says." "It says hes my father." "Says you."

Phoenix: She stared at him, perfectly deadpan. "Why would we lie about that? That's... not exactly something you'd initiate for shits and giggles. Besides, I have the whole memory projecting ability."

Doc: "I* did not say we would be lying.. i said.. most people will not believe us. Why would I say this? Because I want you forewarned.. I do not want you going off and destroying the city.. because someone is a thick witted ***, alright?"

Phoenix: She thought that over and gave a slow nod, "I'll refrain from violent persuasions with regard to the topic. But... I think you're right. I need some time to get used to... the thought of..." Her nose curled as she eyed him like he'd sprouted a second head, "... real parent."

Doc: "Of course you do. I would think it weird if you didnt."

Phoenix: She nodded once, curtly. "I'm going to go - you have your week, I'll have mine. And we can... do... stuff... about this. But in a week." She stared at him, looking for some kind of confirmation that this was a good idea.

Doc: He nodded once. "Agreed." He was relieved it was over. And yet, he added belatedly and quietly, "Be safe." he turned his back and went back to cleaning.

Phoenix: She fumbled into her pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper. Muttering her under her breath, she closed her eyes and vanished. She had a few calls to make and... well, this wasn't going to end well.