Title: Gather Close
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Feedback address: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 15 December 2013
Fandom: Poltergeist: the Legacy
Pairing: Alex/Rachel
Rating: PG13
Date Written: 15 December 2013
Word Count: 1138
Summary: A surprise conversation sends Rachel home to care for her family.
Spoilers/Warnings: Post-series AU. Part of the LWM universe. No standard warnings apply.
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Link to: http://bdkk.shatterstorm.net/
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Disclaimer: This story is an original work of amateur fiction, and is written purely for the private entertainment of P:TL fans. This story is no way affiliated with Trilogy, MGM Worldwide Television or the Sci-Fi Channel. The characters are their property, and this story is not meant to infringe upon the copyrights of MGM, Trilogy, anybody else who owns an interest in "Poltergeist: the Legacy", or any representative of the actors.

Author's Notes: I haven't written nearly enough for my girls this year. I need to remedy that ASAP. Shatterpath gave me one of the Sapphic fragments as a prompt for this piece, and here we are…

Dedication: My muses, as always…

Beta: shatterpath

"Gather Close"
By A.Magiluna Stormwriter


"Evening
            you gather back
                        all that dazzling dawn has put asunder:
                                                you gather a lamb
                                    gather a kid
gather a child to its mother"
-- Sappho


(12-05-2008)

It isn't every day that I get a request for a Face Time chat from Michel. Especially when it's on Alex's phone and she's supposed to be working with Alexis all day. Accepting the request, I smile at my four-year-old son, but the smile turns to a frown as I see his worried expression.

"Michel? What's wrong, handsome?"

"Maman, can you come home? Mama is sick."

As he says the last word, I can hear Alex groaning painfully in the background. Before I can ask for clarification, or where Rose is, there is a blur of movement behind him, followed by the bathroom door slamming shut. And then I hear the telltale sounds of just how ill my love is.

"Michel, I'm coming home now. I want you to call--" I pause as I try to remember which medically-trained members are here in the House of Hearts building and which are out at the Ranch. "Um, I'll tell you what, Michel. You stay there with Mama. I'm coming home and I'll call Aunt Janet to come stay with you both until I get there, okay?"

"Yes, Maman." His face scrunches up and goes a little pale. "Mama's got the icky tummy sounds. I don't like those sounds. They make my tummy hurt."

My own stomach clenches in sympathy. "I know they do, cher." I head out of my office, then the building toward my car, still talking to him. "Can you be a good boy and make sure the front door's unlocked for when Aunt Janet comes over?"

"Yes, Maman. You'll be here soon?"

"As soon as traffic allows me to, I promise. I love you, Michel. Tell Mama I love her, too."

"Okay."

His smiling face as he ends the chat gives me hope as I place a quick call to Janet, then drive home with her assurance that she'll check in on my love and son. The drive home takes less time than I expected, thanks to a stunning lack of traffic on a late Friday afternoon. By the time I park the car and head up to our bungalow, the front door opens and Rose stands there with a sheepish look on her face. All it takes is a quirked eyebrow from me to get her talking.

"I was helping the twins wrap their presents for Lindsay's birthday."

"And you couldn't have them come over here to do it? You know better than to leave your brother alone when your mother's not feeling well, Rose. Go to your room. No games, toys, or dessert for the rest of the day. We'll talk further punishment after I make sure Mama's okay."

She looks down and nods reluctantly. "Yes, ma'am." She pauses long enough for me to come closer, then wraps her arms around my waist. "I'm sorry, Maman."

"I know you are, but that won't get you out of your punishment," I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Now go to your room. I think some time thinking about what could have happened as a result of your actions is due."

She nods and runs to her room as I finally enter our home. Michel is on me next, practically climbing my legs to get to me, tears in his eyes. Without thought, I lift him up and kiss his cheeks before cradling him close.

"Nana says Mama's sick," he whispers. "She's with Mama now."

Before I can do more than rub his back, Janet steps out of the bedroom with a reassuring smile. "I thought I heard the kids talking to you out here." She comes closer and runs her fingers through Michel's hair. "Michel, how would you like to come to Nana's house for a little while?" He clings more tightly to me, but lifts his head to study her face for a moment. "I bet Cubby will let you help him teach the puppies new tricks."

He nods eagerly, then glances shyly at me and kisses my cheek. "Maman, may I go to Nana's to help Cubby? Mama could sleep better maybe if it's quiet here?"

"I could even take the grounded one with me," Janet says with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "There's always puppy messes to clean up as punishment?"

I resist the urge to laugh, knowing the punishments she can come up with, but can't stop my lips curving into a smile. "I think that's a fantastic idea, Janet. Michel, go get your sweatshirt and your backpack for visiting Aunt Janet's house, then have your sister come out here."

"Merci, Maman," he says as he gets down and scampers off to his room with a quiet giggle, allowing me to meet Janet's gaze more openly.

"She'll be fine, Rachel. It's just a migraine and a bit of a stomach bug." Janet squeezes my arm. "I think William had the bug last week. Alex may have picked it up from him or Monica when she got it. It should be over pretty quickly. The migraine just isn't helping matters."

Nodding, I smile gratefully at her, then stern my expression as Rose comes out of her room to stand in front of us, head still down. "You are going to go over to Aunt Janet's house for the afternoon, Rose Marie. You'll clean up the puppy kennels and whatever else she gives you for punishment."

"Yes, ma'am, Maman," she says, going to get her sweatshirt and shoes as Michel comes bounding out of his room.

"All right, my handsome boy, you be good for Aunt Janet, okay? I'll come get you for dinner. Maybe Mama will be feeling better by then." He nods and scampers off to wait on the front porch, soon joined by Rose. "Thank you again, Janet. Anything in particular I need to do for Alex?"

"Just pamper her and try to get her to keep the Pedialyte and crackers down. I gave her something for the migraine, so that should ease soon enough. If she's got the same stomach bug as William and Monica, it should be over within about twenty-four hours." She squeezes my arm again, then heads out with the kids. "Call me if you need anything."

Once she's gone, I head into the bedroom, taking a moment to adjust to the darkness before I move to settle on the bed next to Alex. "Hey there, beautiful," I whisper, kissing her forehead as I gather her close in my arms.

"Not beautiful," she mumbles, curling further into my side. "Sick as a dog and with puke breath, so don't even think about kissing me."

Ignoring her admonition, I kiss her forehead. "Just relax, love. Janet's got the kids and I've got you. Whatever you need, I'll take care of it. I love you, Alex."

"I love you, too, Rachel."