David and Neds - the Right Guide 3
Jul. 18th, 2005 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dimity_bluePart 3
Ever practical, Neds had arranged for a rental car, and he calmly drove them from Boston airport as David's stress level rose steadily higher.
David thought that he was doing a good job of hiding his anxiety. He'd spent half the flight meditating, and he was keeping his breathing even while he pretended to gaze out of the window at the passing scenery. Every now and then, they'd pass somewhere that he knew, and sharp memories would jab at him; careless neglect and petty cruelties that he'd borne with a stoic tolerance. At the time, he'd thought that this was how life was. And then, he'd realised that he was an empath, that not everyone could see beyond the polite facade to the uncaring indifference that lay beneath the face his family presented to the world.
To Boston society, the Sutherlands were wealthy, happy people, although their close friends were probably aware of what a disappointment David was to them. Keeping his face turned away from Neds, David smiled slightly. If it hadn't been for his parents' polite fury over his determination to go to Guide School - the one thing he'd ever insisted upon in the face of their disapproval - he would not have been in Cascade...and he would never have met Neds.
Used to having his youngest son buckle down and accept his dictates, Adam Sutherland had been stunned at first, then determined that David would learn that disobeying his parents was a mistake. Therefore, a Guide School was picked out for him - far across the country in Washington State.
David had read his father with appalling ease. The distance, the loneliness, the hardship...all had been intended to bring him to his knees and make him acknowledge that being a Guide was not for him. He knew that his father had fully expected him to give in, to return to Boston, suitably chastened, and ready to accept the accounting career that his wealthy company-owning father had picked out for him.
And now, David was returning - a bonded Guide, with his Sentinel at his side.
David shut his eyes and willed the day away. 'Oh, God, this is going to be a disaster.'
"David?"
"Hmm?" Yanked from his increasingly depressive thoughts, David stared at Neds.
"We don't have to do this, you know." Brown eyes met his, calmly reassuring in a world of turmoil. "Say the word and I'll turn the car around now."
David sighed as Neds turned his eyes towards the road again. "No." 'Let's get this over and done with and never come back.' He took a deep breath and tried lying, willing himself to believe his own words, "It'll be fine."
"You don't believe that."
David turned back to the peaceful world that was sliding by his window. "I'm just worried, that's all." The car slid to a halt. "Neds, we're in a no parking zone!"
"If you don't want to do this, say so."
"You're breaking the law!"
Neds smiled. "So make up your mind quickly before they arrest me."
For a moment, David closed his eyes, then opened them again. "We're here now," his resolve fled, "and if it's horrible we won't come back."
"Attaboy."
The car started and David sighed with relief. At least he wouldn't have to phone his family from jail to explain why he and Neds hadn't turned up.
All too soon they arrived, and David gazed at the front of the house, then hurriedly threw open his door and scrambled out as he saw his father open the front door.
Neds was already out and opening the trunk to retrieve their luggage and, for a second, David paused, caught between two actions. Training demanded that he not keep his father waiting but, at the same time, he couldn't leave Neds to trail up the path behind him like a servant. Guide instinct and a respect for Neds overrode fear and he turned to take his suitcase.
"Just relax. They can't eat you."
Neds' hand on his back was reassuringly warm and David relaxed as the link hummed between them. No, they couldn't eat him and, whatever they said or did, his Sentinel was there with him.
~'~
Edwards kept his calm while he was introduced to the Sutherland family. While David's sister and one brother seemed to be happy for them both, the rest of the family wasn't - and David's distress was strumming through the bond and rousing every protective instinct the Sentinel possessed.
The tension in David's neck was hard to witness as his mother kissed the air somewhere near his cheek, and Edwards automatically put a hand around David's nape and rubbed gently, ignoring the stink of anger that came from Sutherland.
"So, you're David's Sentinel." Sutherland's jaw was as taut as David's nerves, but Edwards had no urge to soothe it.
"Yes, that's right. We've been bonded about two weeks now." Edwards stared the older man down, a predatory instinct thrilling as the weaker man glanced away. If Sutherland intended to reclaim his son and take away Edwards' Guide, he'd think twice before actually attempting anything.
Mrs. Sutherland seemed to realise that her husband was losing ground, and she gracefully stepped in. "Let me show you to your rooms." She laughed, a practised tinkling laugh that gave no hint of real amusement, "Well, not that David needs to be shown to his room. Do you, dear?"
"N-no." David shook his head, keeping his eyes down, but at his mother's next words, they shot up.
"I've put Mister," she laughed again, "I do apologise, Sentinel Edwards in the blue room, dear."
Edwards guessed from the way David's horrified glance skittered back and forth that the blue room was not a good room to be put in, and his thumb increased its soothing rubbing.
As Mrs. Sutherland turned away towards the stairs, either not noticing or choosing to ignore her son's unhappiness, David turned to Edwards and opened his mouth to speak.
"Shhh. Let's get upstairs first." Releasing David, Edwards picked up his suitcase and used his free hand to urge David towards the stairs. He was taking no chances on leaving his Guide undefended with his family.
Once upstairs, the reason for David's distress became clear. The Sutherlands' house was a reasonably large one and his Guide's room was at one end of a long hallway while the blue room was at the other.
"I do hope -"
The Sentinel felt no compunction about interrupting his elegant hostess. "I'm afraid this room is impossible."
Her mouth remained open, surprise turning to indignant shock, on her face.
"As David and I are bonded, he needs to be shielded during the night." Edwards kept his voice calm but his anger was simmering underneath. Did they know nothing about Guides? How much damage had they done to his Guide through their determined ignorance? "Therefore, my room needs to be much closer to my Guide's - next door, in fact - in order for me to protect him."
She laughed again, the silvery sound annoying the Sentinel's hearing. "Oh, David doesn't need to be protected here - we're his family."
He ignored the hint of condescension. "Nevertheless, David needs to be shielded at night, and I'm the only one who can do that."
"Th-th-there's a guest room next to my room," David stammered, his hands flexing nervously on the handle of his suitcase.
"Perfect!" Edwards enthused. "Lead the way, David. Mrs. Sutherland."
"Oh!" For a second she hovered, then, a smile pinned determinedly to her face, she followed her son down the hall. As David opened a bedroom door, she made another protest. "This really isn't good enough for Sentinel Edwards, David!" she proclaimed, stretching out her hand towards the door handle.
Edwards' hand got there first, and she hastily withdrew hers, her startled glance flicking up to meet his. He smiled. "I'm an ex-Marine, Mrs. Sutherland. I'm sure I can rough it for one night."
Out-manoeuvred and out-flanked, she fell back. "Well, if you insist. I'll let David show you around. Darling," her hand rested for a second on David's arm and Sentinel eyes saw him flinch, "tea will be served in the conservatory. You do remember where that is, don't you?"
"Yes, Mother." David's voice was faint.
"Good. I shall see you then. Sentinel Edwards." With a waft of expensive perfume, she left them.
As soon as she was gone, the tension drained from David's body and he leaned against the doorframe whispering an apology.
"It doesn't matter, David." Edwards glared in the direction of the stairs. Gathering his Guide up with one hand, he moved him into the despised guest room and shut the door firmly before taking David's suitcase from him. "Sit down before you fall down."
"We should never have come." The misery on David's face was plain to see.
"Then we'll leave. The car's still outside."
"No!" Horror replaced the misery. "We've got - I mean - we should -"
"Relax. We'll sit it out, if that's what you want." Sitting down next to him, the Sentinel wrapped an arm around his Guide. "How long before we have to be in the conservatory?"
David checked his watch. "About an hour." He sighed. "I don't want to unpack."
"Then don't." The Sentinel smiled. He had plans for the hour anyway. "We'll live out of our suitcases. That way, we'll have less to pack tomorrow." He tightened his arm and leaned into his Guide, ignoring the shocked look on David's face.
"Here?!"
"Well, unless you'd sooner go into your room."
"No! I mean - but - they'll know!"
"David, you're a Guide; you have to bond. I know they've been burying their heads in the sand about all things Sentinel but I'm not prepared to let you suffer with frayed barriers just because of their narrow-minded stupidity."
David's eyes opened even wider, although Edwards hadn't thought that was possible. "But -"
"Claimed and marked, Guide." Edwards' tone was implacable.
There was a moment's shocked silence, then David caved and dropped his barriers. "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."
~'~
David could feel his face reddening as his father's eyes lingered on his neck. Although he had needed to bond to restore his barriers, he could and did wish that Neds hadn't insisted on bonding. Then again, even with his barriers intact, he could feel the disapproval radiating off his father, and he shuddered to imagine how that disapproval would have burned through his frayed shields if Neds hadn't forced the issue.
"David, tell us about your plans now that you're out of Guide School." His mother, as elegant a hostess as ever, smoothly handed him his tea, the delicate fineness of the cup a testament to its expense.
Neds nodded, soothingly supportive, as David glanced at him. He just knew that his parents would hate this too.
"When I'm not working with Neds in the - the police station, I'll be taking some courses at Rainier University." There...that was ambiguous enough. Please God they wouldn't ask what courses.
"Oh?" His father sat back, the disapproval lessening slightly. "What are you intending to study?"
He gulped. "Um -"
"As David has such a talent for drawing, I thought it was a pity to waste it." Neds looked reassuringly solid as he handled the fine bone china. "He's going to university to study art."
David caught his breath. They'd hate Neds more than ever now. "I wanted to!" he put in hastily, hoping they wouldn't blame his Sentinel for it.
There was a crack as his father's hand tightened on his saucer. Ignoring it, Mr. Sutherland put the snapped saucer, with its cup, on the side table at his elbow. "I think accounting would be a much better idea, David. It's useful and, if you decide that you'd rather not work in a police station, it's a good career to pursue."
"I think David will be a much better artist than an accountant," Elizabeth put in, earning herself a glare that she didn't appear to notice.
David stared at her, wondering how she dared to draw their father's wrath away from him. Elizabeth had always been one to step in where angels feared to tread. All the way through his childhood, she'd protected him as best she could, never seeming to mind their father's fury, or take it to heart like he did. More than once, he'd envied her for her forthright nature that was so like their father's.
"In any case, it's David's decision to make. Isn't it, David?" she continued, the warmth of her smile encouraging him to answer.
"Yes." He gulped again, hating the way his heart was hammering inside his chest, then looked at his father. "Yes, it is."
That glare was redirected back at him. "Art is a waste of time, David," his father said, firmly.
"Not when you have a talent for it," Neds interjected, "as David does."
For a moment, David wondered if Neds and Elizabeth had forcefields of some kind that deflected his father's glares; the two of them seemed impervious to the anger behind them.
"Well," Gregory cleared his throat nervously, earning himself a glare from their father, "it's not as if David has to work for a living now. Although," he amended, nodding seriously, "accounting is a far more solid career, David."
David had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. Gregory, his eldest brother and pride of their father's eye, was the family's 'yes-man'.
"And," Gregory continued, apparently oblivious to the effect this would have, "if you have to move back at any point, it'll come in handy in the company."
The Guide clearly heard the growl that erupted from his Sentinel's throat, and he felt the varying emotions that echoed around the room. Fury from Neds, shocked disgust from his mother, anger from his father, interest from Elizabeth, sneaking delight from Harry and total surprise from Gregory.
"David will not be moving back to Boston." While the words weren't quite growled, there was a harsh tone in the Sentinel's voice.
David leaned back against his chair, taking what comfort he could in the solid warmth and wishing it was Neds he was leaning against. "Neds is based in Cascade - that's his territory. Naturally, I-I'll be staying there."
"Well said, David." The gleam in Harry's eyes showed that his wicked sense of humour, that had got him into trouble all of his life, was still as lively as ever. He seemed impervious to the scorching glare their father specialised in too.
"What I meant was, well..." Gregory half-laughed, looking rather stymied, "that if anything should happen...I mean...well, it happens, doesn't it? After all, Sentinel Edwards is a police officer and, well, I mean -"
"More tea, Gregory?"
With obvious relief, Gregory stopped babbling and turned to hand his cup to their mother. "Thank you, Mother."
~'~
"Lord!"
Edwards glanced at David as his Guide flopped back on his bed, then resumed his prowling of the room's perimeter as he listened intently to the noises in the room next door.
"That's one dinner I don't want to sit through again." David propped himself up on one side, resting his head on his hand.
Abandoning his prowling, Edwards sat on the bed next to him. "At least your father never said a word about you studying accountancy."
"Father doesn't approve of any 'heavy' topics at mealtimes - says it's bad for the digestion."
Edwards mulled that over, thinking back to the abysmal dinner and frigid evening they'd endured - despite the best efforts of Elizabeth, her husband and Harry to liven it up. For a start, Mrs. Sutherland had been most displeased that the Sentinel had insisted on sitting next to his Guide - she considered that it made the table uneven. Edwards admitted that it did disrupt the lovely 'lady, gentleman, lady' pattern she had going, but there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide among a bunch of strangers. Actually, there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide in this house, period.
"He'll probably insist on talking to me tomorrow about it," David added.
"That might be difficult." Edwards grinned. "I was planning on getting an early start tomorrow."
David looked surprised. "But our flight isn't until the afternoon," he pointed out.
"They don't know that though, do they?" A thud from the next room got his attention and Edwards glared at the wall. "Who's in there?"
"Gregory," David said, absently. "What will we do until our flight though?"
"You can show me a bit of Boston, we'll have lunch - and talk about anything we please - and then we'll head for the airport. Why does Gregory still live here?"
"Oh, eldest son and all that. Harry moved out as soon as he could. Actually," David leaned forward and whispered, although he didn't need to, "Harry doesn't work for Father at all. There was a huge fuss about that too. He works for the company Elizabeth's husband owns. When she insisted on marrying him, Father tried to get Lewis to merge with him, but Lewis wouldn't."
Edwards thought back to the quiet, unassuming man he'd met at dinner. Only the obstinate set of his mouth gave a hint that Adam Sutherland would get nowhere in bullying his son-in-law. "More fireworks, huh?"
David nodded, more animated than Edwards had seen him since they'd arrived in Boston. "Father blamed Harry for it all, as he'd introduced Elizabeth to Lewis. There was a huge argument; Father doesn't like being defied. Plus, he'd had his own ideas as to who Elizabeth should marry."
"I bet that went down well with Elizabeth."
"She didn't care," David said, shrugging. "She doesn't mind when Father gets annoyed with her - neither does Harry." He frowned. "It doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest."
From the despondent tone in his voice, Edwards could tell that David was despising himself for not being more like his outgoing and forthright siblings. "Well, you stood your ground when you had to." He smiled. "I'd say your father believes that he's got three obstinate children, not just two."
There was surprise in the eyes that were lifted to meet his. Obviously David had never thought of it like that before.
"Now," Edwards glared at the wall once more, "grab your things. You're not sleeping in here with Gregory through there." Of all David's siblings, Gregory was the one Edwards trusted the least.
"Well, where am I going to sleep then?" David asked, even as he obediently got to his feet and grabbed his wash bag and pyjamas.
"With me. Just don't hog all the blankets." Ignoring the shock that shot through the bond, Edwards steered him into the guest room and shut the door firmly. He needed his Guide safe, and the only safe place in the Sutherland household was at the Sentinel's side.
~'~
The next morning saw David and Neds up bright and early, and sitting down to breakfast with the David's parents and his eldest brother. David did his best to look calm, although he was on tenterhooks waiting for his father to make his move and for Neds to announce their departure. It was anyone's guess as to who'd get it in first.
It wasn't until breakfast was nearly over that the axe fell.
"David, as soon as you've finished, I'd like to see you in my study." Mr. Sutherland threw a glare at Neds and added, "Alone."
David's cup hit its saucer with a clatter. "I -"
"Unfortunately, David and I are leaving directly after breakfast," Neds interrupted calmly. "And anything you have to discuss with David would, naturally, include me. I am his Sentinel, after all." He wiped his mouth with his napkin and dumped it on the table. "However, as I said, we'll be leaving soon."
David stared at his father as his face flushed with indignation. Fortunately, his father seemed too taken aback to talk - for the moment, anyway.
"Come along, David."
Hurriedly wiping his mouth, David dropped his napkin and pushed his chair back.
"David?" His mother sounded confused.
"Sorry, Mother." He hastily brushed a kiss across her cool cheek before retreating to Neds' side. "We have to go."
It wasn't until they came back downstairs, cases in hand, that his father roused himself enough to make a protest.
"Sentinel Edwards," his voice was tight with anger, "while I appreciate that you are my son's Sentinel, we are his family and I am his father. Naturally, I have an interest in my son's future -"
"Your son's future has already been decided by him," Neds interrupted, his voice cold. "David has chosen to study art and I, as his Sentinel, fully support his decision." The warmth in his eyes, as he smiled at David, was at direct odds with the previous ice in his voice. "I think he'll make a fine artist."
"Painting is no way to make a living!"
Flinching at his father's tone, David instinctively moved closer to his Sentinel, who swung around to hide him from view.
"Especially if you only have a very mediocre talent, as David does!"
"I disagree," Neds replied, the cold civility in his voice slashing through the polite veneer. "In any case, the subject is not open for debate." He continued, talking over David's father with ease, "David will be studying art because he chooses to - and that is the end of the matter. Goodbye, Mr. Sutherland, Mrs. Sutherland. David."
A firm hand moved him towards the front door and David went willingly. "Father, Mother, Gregory." His eyes flickered from one to the other. "Bye."
Part 4.
Ever practical, Neds had arranged for a rental car, and he calmly drove them from Boston airport as David's stress level rose steadily higher.
David thought that he was doing a good job of hiding his anxiety. He'd spent half the flight meditating, and he was keeping his breathing even while he pretended to gaze out of the window at the passing scenery. Every now and then, they'd pass somewhere that he knew, and sharp memories would jab at him; careless neglect and petty cruelties that he'd borne with a stoic tolerance. At the time, he'd thought that this was how life was. And then, he'd realised that he was an empath, that not everyone could see beyond the polite facade to the uncaring indifference that lay beneath the face his family presented to the world.
To Boston society, the Sutherlands were wealthy, happy people, although their close friends were probably aware of what a disappointment David was to them. Keeping his face turned away from Neds, David smiled slightly. If it hadn't been for his parents' polite fury over his determination to go to Guide School - the one thing he'd ever insisted upon in the face of their disapproval - he would not have been in Cascade...and he would never have met Neds.
Used to having his youngest son buckle down and accept his dictates, Adam Sutherland had been stunned at first, then determined that David would learn that disobeying his parents was a mistake. Therefore, a Guide School was picked out for him - far across the country in Washington State.
David had read his father with appalling ease. The distance, the loneliness, the hardship...all had been intended to bring him to his knees and make him acknowledge that being a Guide was not for him. He knew that his father had fully expected him to give in, to return to Boston, suitably chastened, and ready to accept the accounting career that his wealthy company-owning father had picked out for him.
And now, David was returning - a bonded Guide, with his Sentinel at his side.
David shut his eyes and willed the day away. 'Oh, God, this is going to be a disaster.'
"David?"
"Hmm?" Yanked from his increasingly depressive thoughts, David stared at Neds.
"We don't have to do this, you know." Brown eyes met his, calmly reassuring in a world of turmoil. "Say the word and I'll turn the car around now."
David sighed as Neds turned his eyes towards the road again. "No." 'Let's get this over and done with and never come back.' He took a deep breath and tried lying, willing himself to believe his own words, "It'll be fine."
"You don't believe that."
David turned back to the peaceful world that was sliding by his window. "I'm just worried, that's all." The car slid to a halt. "Neds, we're in a no parking zone!"
"If you don't want to do this, say so."
"You're breaking the law!"
Neds smiled. "So make up your mind quickly before they arrest me."
For a moment, David closed his eyes, then opened them again. "We're here now," his resolve fled, "and if it's horrible we won't come back."
"Attaboy."
The car started and David sighed with relief. At least he wouldn't have to phone his family from jail to explain why he and Neds hadn't turned up.
All too soon they arrived, and David gazed at the front of the house, then hurriedly threw open his door and scrambled out as he saw his father open the front door.
Neds was already out and opening the trunk to retrieve their luggage and, for a second, David paused, caught between two actions. Training demanded that he not keep his father waiting but, at the same time, he couldn't leave Neds to trail up the path behind him like a servant. Guide instinct and a respect for Neds overrode fear and he turned to take his suitcase.
"Just relax. They can't eat you."
Neds' hand on his back was reassuringly warm and David relaxed as the link hummed between them. No, they couldn't eat him and, whatever they said or did, his Sentinel was there with him.
~'~
Edwards kept his calm while he was introduced to the Sutherland family. While David's sister and one brother seemed to be happy for them both, the rest of the family wasn't - and David's distress was strumming through the bond and rousing every protective instinct the Sentinel possessed.
The tension in David's neck was hard to witness as his mother kissed the air somewhere near his cheek, and Edwards automatically put a hand around David's nape and rubbed gently, ignoring the stink of anger that came from Sutherland.
"So, you're David's Sentinel." Sutherland's jaw was as taut as David's nerves, but Edwards had no urge to soothe it.
"Yes, that's right. We've been bonded about two weeks now." Edwards stared the older man down, a predatory instinct thrilling as the weaker man glanced away. If Sutherland intended to reclaim his son and take away Edwards' Guide, he'd think twice before actually attempting anything.
Mrs. Sutherland seemed to realise that her husband was losing ground, and she gracefully stepped in. "Let me show you to your rooms." She laughed, a practised tinkling laugh that gave no hint of real amusement, "Well, not that David needs to be shown to his room. Do you, dear?"
"N-no." David shook his head, keeping his eyes down, but at his mother's next words, they shot up.
"I've put Mister," she laughed again, "I do apologise, Sentinel Edwards in the blue room, dear."
Edwards guessed from the way David's horrified glance skittered back and forth that the blue room was not a good room to be put in, and his thumb increased its soothing rubbing.
As Mrs. Sutherland turned away towards the stairs, either not noticing or choosing to ignore her son's unhappiness, David turned to Edwards and opened his mouth to speak.
"Shhh. Let's get upstairs first." Releasing David, Edwards picked up his suitcase and used his free hand to urge David towards the stairs. He was taking no chances on leaving his Guide undefended with his family.
Once upstairs, the reason for David's distress became clear. The Sutherlands' house was a reasonably large one and his Guide's room was at one end of a long hallway while the blue room was at the other.
"I do hope -"
The Sentinel felt no compunction about interrupting his elegant hostess. "I'm afraid this room is impossible."
Her mouth remained open, surprise turning to indignant shock, on her face.
"As David and I are bonded, he needs to be shielded during the night." Edwards kept his voice calm but his anger was simmering underneath. Did they know nothing about Guides? How much damage had they done to his Guide through their determined ignorance? "Therefore, my room needs to be much closer to my Guide's - next door, in fact - in order for me to protect him."
She laughed again, the silvery sound annoying the Sentinel's hearing. "Oh, David doesn't need to be protected here - we're his family."
He ignored the hint of condescension. "Nevertheless, David needs to be shielded at night, and I'm the only one who can do that."
"Th-th-there's a guest room next to my room," David stammered, his hands flexing nervously on the handle of his suitcase.
"Perfect!" Edwards enthused. "Lead the way, David. Mrs. Sutherland."
"Oh!" For a second she hovered, then, a smile pinned determinedly to her face, she followed her son down the hall. As David opened a bedroom door, she made another protest. "This really isn't good enough for Sentinel Edwards, David!" she proclaimed, stretching out her hand towards the door handle.
Edwards' hand got there first, and she hastily withdrew hers, her startled glance flicking up to meet his. He smiled. "I'm an ex-Marine, Mrs. Sutherland. I'm sure I can rough it for one night."
Out-manoeuvred and out-flanked, she fell back. "Well, if you insist. I'll let David show you around. Darling," her hand rested for a second on David's arm and Sentinel eyes saw him flinch, "tea will be served in the conservatory. You do remember where that is, don't you?"
"Yes, Mother." David's voice was faint.
"Good. I shall see you then. Sentinel Edwards." With a waft of expensive perfume, she left them.
As soon as she was gone, the tension drained from David's body and he leaned against the doorframe whispering an apology.
"It doesn't matter, David." Edwards glared in the direction of the stairs. Gathering his Guide up with one hand, he moved him into the despised guest room and shut the door firmly before taking David's suitcase from him. "Sit down before you fall down."
"We should never have come." The misery on David's face was plain to see.
"Then we'll leave. The car's still outside."
"No!" Horror replaced the misery. "We've got - I mean - we should -"
"Relax. We'll sit it out, if that's what you want." Sitting down next to him, the Sentinel wrapped an arm around his Guide. "How long before we have to be in the conservatory?"
David checked his watch. "About an hour." He sighed. "I don't want to unpack."
"Then don't." The Sentinel smiled. He had plans for the hour anyway. "We'll live out of our suitcases. That way, we'll have less to pack tomorrow." He tightened his arm and leaned into his Guide, ignoring the shocked look on David's face.
"Here?!"
"Well, unless you'd sooner go into your room."
"No! I mean - but - they'll know!"
"David, you're a Guide; you have to bond. I know they've been burying their heads in the sand about all things Sentinel but I'm not prepared to let you suffer with frayed barriers just because of their narrow-minded stupidity."
David's eyes opened even wider, although Edwards hadn't thought that was possible. "But -"
"Claimed and marked, Guide." Edwards' tone was implacable.
There was a moment's shocked silence, then David caved and dropped his barriers. "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."
~'~
David could feel his face reddening as his father's eyes lingered on his neck. Although he had needed to bond to restore his barriers, he could and did wish that Neds hadn't insisted on bonding. Then again, even with his barriers intact, he could feel the disapproval radiating off his father, and he shuddered to imagine how that disapproval would have burned through his frayed shields if Neds hadn't forced the issue.
"David, tell us about your plans now that you're out of Guide School." His mother, as elegant a hostess as ever, smoothly handed him his tea, the delicate fineness of the cup a testament to its expense.
Neds nodded, soothingly supportive, as David glanced at him. He just knew that his parents would hate this too.
"When I'm not working with Neds in the - the police station, I'll be taking some courses at Rainier University." There...that was ambiguous enough. Please God they wouldn't ask what courses.
"Oh?" His father sat back, the disapproval lessening slightly. "What are you intending to study?"
He gulped. "Um -"
"As David has such a talent for drawing, I thought it was a pity to waste it." Neds looked reassuringly solid as he handled the fine bone china. "He's going to university to study art."
David caught his breath. They'd hate Neds more than ever now. "I wanted to!" he put in hastily, hoping they wouldn't blame his Sentinel for it.
There was a crack as his father's hand tightened on his saucer. Ignoring it, Mr. Sutherland put the snapped saucer, with its cup, on the side table at his elbow. "I think accounting would be a much better idea, David. It's useful and, if you decide that you'd rather not work in a police station, it's a good career to pursue."
"I think David will be a much better artist than an accountant," Elizabeth put in, earning herself a glare that she didn't appear to notice.
David stared at her, wondering how she dared to draw their father's wrath away from him. Elizabeth had always been one to step in where angels feared to tread. All the way through his childhood, she'd protected him as best she could, never seeming to mind their father's fury, or take it to heart like he did. More than once, he'd envied her for her forthright nature that was so like their father's.
"In any case, it's David's decision to make. Isn't it, David?" she continued, the warmth of her smile encouraging him to answer.
"Yes." He gulped again, hating the way his heart was hammering inside his chest, then looked at his father. "Yes, it is."
That glare was redirected back at him. "Art is a waste of time, David," his father said, firmly.
"Not when you have a talent for it," Neds interjected, "as David does."
For a moment, David wondered if Neds and Elizabeth had forcefields of some kind that deflected his father's glares; the two of them seemed impervious to the anger behind them.
"Well," Gregory cleared his throat nervously, earning himself a glare from their father, "it's not as if David has to work for a living now. Although," he amended, nodding seriously, "accounting is a far more solid career, David."
David had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. Gregory, his eldest brother and pride of their father's eye, was the family's 'yes-man'.
"And," Gregory continued, apparently oblivious to the effect this would have, "if you have to move back at any point, it'll come in handy in the company."
The Guide clearly heard the growl that erupted from his Sentinel's throat, and he felt the varying emotions that echoed around the room. Fury from Neds, shocked disgust from his mother, anger from his father, interest from Elizabeth, sneaking delight from Harry and total surprise from Gregory.
"David will not be moving back to Boston." While the words weren't quite growled, there was a harsh tone in the Sentinel's voice.
David leaned back against his chair, taking what comfort he could in the solid warmth and wishing it was Neds he was leaning against. "Neds is based in Cascade - that's his territory. Naturally, I-I'll be staying there."
"Well said, David." The gleam in Harry's eyes showed that his wicked sense of humour, that had got him into trouble all of his life, was still as lively as ever. He seemed impervious to the scorching glare their father specialised in too.
"What I meant was, well..." Gregory half-laughed, looking rather stymied, "that if anything should happen...I mean...well, it happens, doesn't it? After all, Sentinel Edwards is a police officer and, well, I mean -"
"More tea, Gregory?"
With obvious relief, Gregory stopped babbling and turned to hand his cup to their mother. "Thank you, Mother."
~'~
"Lord!"
Edwards glanced at David as his Guide flopped back on his bed, then resumed his prowling of the room's perimeter as he listened intently to the noises in the room next door.
"That's one dinner I don't want to sit through again." David propped himself up on one side, resting his head on his hand.
Abandoning his prowling, Edwards sat on the bed next to him. "At least your father never said a word about you studying accountancy."
"Father doesn't approve of any 'heavy' topics at mealtimes - says it's bad for the digestion."
Edwards mulled that over, thinking back to the abysmal dinner and frigid evening they'd endured - despite the best efforts of Elizabeth, her husband and Harry to liven it up. For a start, Mrs. Sutherland had been most displeased that the Sentinel had insisted on sitting next to his Guide - she considered that it made the table uneven. Edwards admitted that it did disrupt the lovely 'lady, gentleman, lady' pattern she had going, but there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide among a bunch of strangers. Actually, there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide in this house, period.
"He'll probably insist on talking to me tomorrow about it," David added.
"That might be difficult." Edwards grinned. "I was planning on getting an early start tomorrow."
David looked surprised. "But our flight isn't until the afternoon," he pointed out.
"They don't know that though, do they?" A thud from the next room got his attention and Edwards glared at the wall. "Who's in there?"
"Gregory," David said, absently. "What will we do until our flight though?"
"You can show me a bit of Boston, we'll have lunch - and talk about anything we please - and then we'll head for the airport. Why does Gregory still live here?"
"Oh, eldest son and all that. Harry moved out as soon as he could. Actually," David leaned forward and whispered, although he didn't need to, "Harry doesn't work for Father at all. There was a huge fuss about that too. He works for the company Elizabeth's husband owns. When she insisted on marrying him, Father tried to get Lewis to merge with him, but Lewis wouldn't."
Edwards thought back to the quiet, unassuming man he'd met at dinner. Only the obstinate set of his mouth gave a hint that Adam Sutherland would get nowhere in bullying his son-in-law. "More fireworks, huh?"
David nodded, more animated than Edwards had seen him since they'd arrived in Boston. "Father blamed Harry for it all, as he'd introduced Elizabeth to Lewis. There was a huge argument; Father doesn't like being defied. Plus, he'd had his own ideas as to who Elizabeth should marry."
"I bet that went down well with Elizabeth."
"She didn't care," David said, shrugging. "She doesn't mind when Father gets annoyed with her - neither does Harry." He frowned. "It doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest."
From the despondent tone in his voice, Edwards could tell that David was despising himself for not being more like his outgoing and forthright siblings. "Well, you stood your ground when you had to." He smiled. "I'd say your father believes that he's got three obstinate children, not just two."
There was surprise in the eyes that were lifted to meet his. Obviously David had never thought of it like that before.
"Now," Edwards glared at the wall once more, "grab your things. You're not sleeping in here with Gregory through there." Of all David's siblings, Gregory was the one Edwards trusted the least.
"Well, where am I going to sleep then?" David asked, even as he obediently got to his feet and grabbed his wash bag and pyjamas.
"With me. Just don't hog all the blankets." Ignoring the shock that shot through the bond, Edwards steered him into the guest room and shut the door firmly. He needed his Guide safe, and the only safe place in the Sutherland household was at the Sentinel's side.
~'~
The next morning saw David and Neds up bright and early, and sitting down to breakfast with the David's parents and his eldest brother. David did his best to look calm, although he was on tenterhooks waiting for his father to make his move and for Neds to announce their departure. It was anyone's guess as to who'd get it in first.
It wasn't until breakfast was nearly over that the axe fell.
"David, as soon as you've finished, I'd like to see you in my study." Mr. Sutherland threw a glare at Neds and added, "Alone."
David's cup hit its saucer with a clatter. "I -"
"Unfortunately, David and I are leaving directly after breakfast," Neds interrupted calmly. "And anything you have to discuss with David would, naturally, include me. I am his Sentinel, after all." He wiped his mouth with his napkin and dumped it on the table. "However, as I said, we'll be leaving soon."
David stared at his father as his face flushed with indignation. Fortunately, his father seemed too taken aback to talk - for the moment, anyway.
"Come along, David."
Hurriedly wiping his mouth, David dropped his napkin and pushed his chair back.
"David?" His mother sounded confused.
"Sorry, Mother." He hastily brushed a kiss across her cool cheek before retreating to Neds' side. "We have to go."
It wasn't until they came back downstairs, cases in hand, that his father roused himself enough to make a protest.
"Sentinel Edwards," his voice was tight with anger, "while I appreciate that you are my son's Sentinel, we are his family and I am his father. Naturally, I have an interest in my son's future -"
"Your son's future has already been decided by him," Neds interrupted, his voice cold. "David has chosen to study art and I, as his Sentinel, fully support his decision." The warmth in his eyes, as he smiled at David, was at direct odds with the previous ice in his voice. "I think he'll make a fine artist."
"Painting is no way to make a living!"
Flinching at his father's tone, David instinctively moved closer to his Sentinel, who swung around to hide him from view.
"Especially if you only have a very mediocre talent, as David does!"
"I disagree," Neds replied, the cold civility in his voice slashing through the polite veneer. "In any case, the subject is not open for debate." He continued, talking over David's father with ease, "David will be studying art because he chooses to - and that is the end of the matter. Goodbye, Mr. Sutherland, Mrs. Sutherland. David."
A firm hand moved him towards the front door and David went willingly. "Father, Mother, Gregory." His eyes flickered from one to the other. "Bye."
Part 4.