< [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Ingrid:
Ingrid moved to sit beside him, taking his hand in hers "Derek, believe me
when I say this but Julia Walker is not an angel or spirit. We spoke last
night."
She was sure Derek would ponder the fact they spoke and continued quietly
"She has been in limbo, unable to cross over."
"She," Ingrid looked at him "couldn't find peace and so stayed where she
was, being allowed to look in every once in a while but for the most part
being kept from doing so, because it was the root of her unrest. So they
gave her... cases, much like the work here in the Legacy, and abilities to
carry out certain duties, like your Gift of Sight."
She couldn't help it and smiled slightly "It seems that even heaven wasn't
prepared for her stubbornness when it came to remaining as she was and they
obviously knew that she would never find the peace she needed and gave her
the tasks related to this House."
Ingrid looked at him for a long moment, tilting her head to the side before
asking "Have you tried to find out?"
She knew how Julia felt but she wasn't a liberty to reveal it. She felt
that that particular part of their conversation fell under a confidence that
neared confessional.
Derek:
Derek was relieved to hear that Julia was not some devine entity, it
helped...some. And he trussted that Ingrid was correct. After all she
should know. He wondered what the two had been discussing though. "No," he
admitted. "I can't." That was the truth. Fear held him back...fear of
dismissal, humiliation. He rarely had such a defeatest attitude about
anything, but in this one area he had no control over it and it made him
angry. His life was neat and even and control he did not like parts of it
spiraling out of control without his consent.
Ingrid:
Ingrid laid her head against his shoulder, her words gentle "Some of the
greatest things are the hardest to obtain in ways of courage. Just promise
me you will not shut yourself off if the possibility presents itself?"
"Now, what are you curious about?" she asked, knowing full well he was but
not saying.
Derek:
Derek kissed his sister's forehead, before nodding silently. This was a
hard promise to make. He did not want to ruin what raport he did have with
Julia and he didn't want to cause her any undue stress or problems. "I was
just wondering what the two of you were discussing," he admitted.
Ingrid:
Ingrid grinned "About how it was working with Archangels but when I finally
finished with asking her a field of questions about it we got to the more
enjoyable part of discussing antics a certain boy participated in and how he
got caught."
"I also managed to find a photo album...."
Derek:
"You didn't," Derek said feeling embarrassment creeping up on him again.
There were somethings from his childhood that did not live up to the image
he had now. Things he preferred if no one repeated. "What exactly did you
tell her?" He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he had to be prepared in
case it was something he couldn't live down. "Which photo album," he added
curiously.
Ingrid:
Ingrid chuckled. If that weren't a certain sign he wasn't taken with the
woman...
"Not to worry, Brother." she assured him "I kept with the unembarrising
moments. Like when you found the hidden crypt on the dig in Egypt and how
the men there were practically kicking themselves in the backside at being
shown up by a twelve year old. She was most impressed and admitted a little
tale of her own."
She chuckled, remembering it "You should ask her about it sometime. I think
she's been into as much mischief as you have."
"Oh," she answered about the photo album "The white one, we found it in the
library downstairs while doing what she called a 'midnight raid' in the
kitchen."
Derek:
Derek was relieved, he could live that at least. "Really? What did she
tell you?" He was really very curious about this and Julia wasn't around to
ask at the moment. He chuckled at the mention of Julia's raid on the
kitchen. "I even suspect her of feeding Kat at all hours," he said.
"Where's the album?"
"Well, I'll tell you one of them but I suspect you already know of her
daring nature. And the photo album is in her room at the moment. We ended
up there after a little tour of the inside of the house." Ingrid smiled and
recalled what Julia had said "She was in college and the lead journalist for
the school paper and working an internship at the city one. She had set up
an appointment with the head dean of her parent's alumni school about the
pattern she'd found about how some students were passing the grades and yet
not passing basic skills test.
"Unfortunately," she couldn't help it and chuckled as she admitted the
result of that visit "the secretary hadn't given the Dean the message.
Imagine his shock and the coming headlines when Julia walked in and saw him
in... extra curricular activities with one of those students."
Derek:
Derek couldn't help but laugh. Leave it to Julia to share such information
with a nun. Most people would have told other stories, but she shyed away
from little. "I shall have to ask her about the other stories and the
album. I wouldn't mind seeing that myself." It had been a long time since
he'd looked at pictures of his youth. They brought good memories, though
some brought others that he'd prefer not to think about.
Ingrid:
Ingrid smiled with sudden inspiration "Why not tonight? I had such a fun
time with her that I talked her into an encore. We're supposed to order out
for Chinese take out. I plan on learning how to use those sticks and she's
promised to show me."
That and, although Ingrid suspecting he was more open with Julia than most
others, he had never had a problem with being open around his sister. It
would be the perfect buffer for them both "She's even promised to bring a
photo album or two of her own."
Ingrid saw the time on his watch and blinked. They had been talking longer
than she had thought "I hope I'm not keeping you from anything?"
Derek:
"I think I would enjoy that," Derek said after giving the matter some
thought. The idea definitely had it's appeal. They wouldn't be alone and
therefore not likely to fight or have any other embarrassing incidents,
though Kat had been around during the last, but having Ingrid there would be
more useful, hopefully. Derek glanced at his own watch. "Nothing that
could not wait. I was up rather early actually."
Julia approached just then and looked at them curiously, a smile playing
with her features "Enjoy what?"
Ingrid smiled and answered "If Derek were to join us for our raid tonight.
You don't mind, do you?"
Julia looked at Derek, remembering the tale Ingrid had told her and feeling
the grin softening as she admitted quietly "I'd like that, but you have to
promise not to laugh too hard at the pictures your sister bribed me into
digging up. And... I expect you to be fair and dig up one of your own, your
choice of course. So if you hear noises from the attic, that's me."
"I figured I'd find that violin of mine too," she added, remembering their
conversation in the UV the other day.
Derek:
Derek gave her a baleful smile, "I'm afraid I don't have such photographs of
myself," he told her. He was glad she didn't mind him crashing the party
and he was eager to see her album and hear her play. "Will you be playing
Bach?"
Ingrid and Julia:
Ingrid watched them but remained quiet. It was amazing what one picked up
when one stayed silent and watched.
Julia leaned her shoulder against the embrasure and returned his smile as
she tilted her head "As promised."
That made Ingrid blink and ask "You play the violin?"
Julia smiled and shrugged a little, even shyly as she lowered her gaze. She
hadn't intended to play it during the raid but would if Derek wanted her to
and looked back at his sister with a quirk of her lips "I promised to
torture Derek with a try at playing again but now both of you get to feel
your ears beg for mercy."
Ingrid chuckled "I doubt that sincerely and look forward to it."
"Me too." Julia answered honestly before straightening and teasing Derek a
little "But now it's time for me to torture him by taking his beloved to
catch up with Reese and the others."
Derek:
Derek frowned slightly, but pulled the keys out and handed them to her. "Be
careful and bring it back in one piece," he told her quite seriously. She
really needs her own car, he thought idly.
Julia:
She looked at their hands when he held out the keys and set them into her
palm, surprising herself by, instead of ducking her head like she felt like
doing, she met his gaze and smiled slightly "I'll keep the cell phone on me
and call if anything comes up."
Then she straightened and gave Ingrid a little wave "Lesson Two in Kitchen
Raid tactics tonight. See if you can get him to at least bring in a school
picture.. preferably kindergarten or first couple of grades."
She gave them both a wink and turned to leave, only to stop and peek around
the banister of the stairs at Derek and tease "Can I slide down this thing?"
Derek:
Derek's jaw tightened slightly and he shook his head fervently, horrified,
though slightly amused, by such a notion. However, the amusement was
soemthing he did not allow to be reflected in his expression. He knew
better than to encourage her in such ventures.
Julia and Ingrid:
At his look she chuckled and started downstairs the traditional way
"Kidding, kidding. See you later."
Julia honestly didn't know what had gotten into her, except that... well
when she woke up, she couldn't quite dismiss the fact that, although he had
done it the previous day... this time he hadn't flinched or hurriedly
excused himself at her contact. Admittedly, she was the one already leaving
but she just had a feeling...
Ingrid turned her gaze to Derek's profile and smiled slightly, although the
expression was replaced when he finally turned back to her.
"And you get to see your sister trying to eat with sticks and hopefully not
fling food about the place. You don't by any chance know where her things
are kept in the attic do you? Or I could offer to go with her when she goes
up. Personally, I don't go into attics or basements alone unless I
absolutely have to. Faith I have, but there is a dislike for mice I also
have and no matter the place, I always come across something having to do
with crawling things."
Derek:
Derek gave her an amused smile, she hadn't changed a bit. He remember well
bringing a mouse home one day as a child and her hysterical reaction to it.
"She has a few trunks, they're all together." Though he'd done it after her
death, he would feel odd going through her things now. In fact, he had just
packed things up, hadn't really looked at anything then. He had no clue
what was up there. "Perhaps, you should go with her, or I could."
"I will if you wish it." Ingrid replied, unsuccessful in trying to cover up
her reaction to possibly seeing a mouse while up there. She turned her gaze
toward the stairs when the front door opened and then closed and then looked
back at Derek, deciding to distract herself from thoughts of furry creatures
popping up where they weren't wanted "What is it with you men and autos?
If it were anyone else it would see like you were giving away.... a hand or
something."
Derek:
"If she needs help, I'll go up with her," Derek volunteered noticing the
flicker of mousely concern in his sister's eyes. "Though I find it hard to
imagine that Julia has a problem going to the attic alone."
He raised a curious eyebrow at Ingrid when she brought up cars. "Don't be
ridiculous he told her," not having the slightest clue to what she was
referring. Yes he was very attached to his car, but really? Where would
she get such an idea.
Ingrid:
Her eyebrows rose in traditional sisterly fashion at being 'challenged' by
her brother "Ridiculous? Tsk, tsk Derek, this is me you're speaking with.
You haven't let anyone use your UV except in emergencies. I'm surprised you
haven't taken her to the dealership to get her one or at the very least
thought about it."
She grinned then "I wonder what color she'd get...."
Derek:
"I've thought about it," Derek objected. He just wasn't one to do anything
on the spur of the moment. "She'd want red," he added with a slight cringe.
He wasn't sure he could buy anything that color. Perhaps a nice beige.
Ingrid:
Ingrid patted his hand mock sympathetically "I'm sure you'll pick one out
she'll like."
