JP- There and Back Again

"Susi, stop, he's with us now" Riley said using his speed to scoop her up and place her in Alex's arms.

Susi kept growling at Nero, flipping him off.

Nero blinked and finally climbed out of the water, quickly leaving a large puddle around him on the floor.

Elizabeth groaned. “I feel like this is gonna be a long day…wanna go to the infirmary and get yourself checked, Min?” She asked.

Alex just flipped her around and kissed her as a distraction.

Riley looked over at Esther, Nero and Anastasia "let's go find some rooms for us so we can rest till River is fine with her rampage.

Min nodded, hugging her arms.

Sorley used his power to drive the water in the puddle around Nero back into the pool.

Anastasia nodded and let Riley lead the way.

Esther was more hesitant. “I…maybe I should return home?” She said nervously.

Nero watched the water and looked at Sorley. “Thank you…” He said politely and started toward the door.

Riley moved over to Esther "it's ok if you want to go home you can but I was hoping you'd like to see Amber or River. If you need to talk to someone, Leimomi is here as well."

“I’m not going to see a therapist, papa.” Esther frowned. “I’ve endured the pain alone so far. I can do it again.” Sighing, she looked away. “Sorry, that was out of line…I’ve just been alone for so long…”

Riley pulled her into a hug “it’s ok to rely on others Esther I taught you that remember?” he whispered “lord knows I’m going to need some help healing.”

“Papa, I healed you…what are you talking about?” Esther frowned as she hugged him back. “Are you talking about what happened with that…woman?”

Riley nodded “ I still have to talk to River about it I know it wasn’t my fault but I still feel guilty.”

“You know River will understand.” Esther retorted.

“I know she will and I know I’m being silly but I can’t help it” Riley replied looking away “there’s also the matter of Coral potentially being pregnant with my kid.”

“We’ll figure it out, papa. River will help, too…” Esther reassured him and blinked when she realized that Nero was having a hard time figuring out how to get through the door. “We should help him…”

Riley nodded and moved to open the double doors so he could move through. Luckily the underground had some accommodations for larger metas. After getting Nero settled in Riley entered his before sitting down on the bed and staring at the floor.

Anastasia would stick to Riley like glue, even when he went to his room. She sat next to him, keeping quiet.

Riley looked over to the woman and pulled her into a hug and laying down on the bed holding her.

Anastasia curled up against Riley, finally letting herself weep again. Everything still hurt. “What are we going to do now?” She asked.

“We’ll get through it together” he whispered looking into her eyes “Anastasia I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you in time. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.”

“I don’t know…” She said softly, feeling fresh tears sting at her eyes. “I just don’t ever want to be hurt by him again…” That was when the phone in the room would start ringing.

Riley reached over with one arm while still holding onto Anastasia. Kissing her on top of the head he answered “hello?”

“Honey,” River’s voice came through. “Why is there this whore at MegaCorp saying she’s pregnant with your child?” Coral could be heard cussing River out in the background.

“Thrane had me collared” Riley began to speak his voice cracking “River I’m sorry I tried to fight… I….” Riley found himself to emotional to continue speaking.

There was a silence for a long moment before River spoke up. “Thank you for your honesty, honey. I’ll be home and we can talk about this then. How is Anastasia?” She asked, trying to distract him from the guilt.

Riley broke down at the question and told her about Canestone and how he couldn’t save her before she was raped. It was clear Riley blamed himself for it.

“Don’t blame yourself, Riley,” River insisted as she made sure Coral was thoroughly collared. “I’ll be home soon. Okay?”

“Ok honey” Riley whispered before laying down and holding Anastasia as he cried.

It would be hours before River arrived, making sure they locked up Coral in a room she could not get out of. She made sure everything collar and cuff on the wretched woman was activated before heading to the bedroom to see Riley and Anastasia.

Riley looked up and saw River running up to her and hugging her "I'm sorry honey"

River blinked. “Why are you sorry, Riley? You’ve done nothing wrong.” She hugged him back and looked at Anastasia in confusion. All the other woman could do was sit up and hug herself.

"I just felt like I betrayed you" Riley admitted moving over to the bed so they could sit next to Anastasia "that I should have fought harder or done things different."

“You were collard, Riley…they kept any resources for you to use away while in that room with her.” River sat down with them and rubbed his back gently. “Don’t feel that way, okay? Coral is the one at fault here.”

Anastasia nodded in agreement. “S-so is that monster that…” She looked at the floor.

Riley reached over and held her hand giving it a squeeze" I just wish I could feel in control again."

“We’re never truly in control, Riley…” River sighed heavily and looked at Anastasia. “It’s going to be okay. We won’t let him near you again.” She hoped so anyway.

"I just feel tainted like I still feel her hands all over me and her carving her name into my flesh even though Esther healed me" he replied looking down at the floor.

“That was her being like Canestone was to Tzeitel…” River told him, pointing out how similar things were.

Riley nodded feeling more at ease. "How do I make this feeling of betrayal go away and what do we do about Coral?"

“You are going to start seeing Leimomi. We need more therapists…as for Coral, I have her under lock and key. She’s going to have that child if she is pregnant and once the child is born, I am ending her. Just one conversation and I already know she’s just like Canestone. Probably worse.”

"What about the baby then?" Riley asked "I know they're innocent in I don't think it could abandon my kid would you be comfortable raising them with me?"

“Of course I’ll be comfortable raising the baby.” River replied. “Any child of yours is a child of mine, Riley. We’re married, we’re partners, it’s what we’re supposed to do. We
work together with things like this.”

Riley nodded and pulled River into his arms "thank you" he whispered before kissing her.

River returned the kiss and frowned when she heard people walking through the hall. “What’s going on?”

Anastasia got up and went to the door, checking the hallway to see the returning group at the entrance. “Looks like they brought back a hurt woman…”

Riley got up and joined her looking into the hallway “something seems wrong.”

Anastasia nodded, tilting her head. “They keep talking about a James…” She said.

“James?” River frowned. “What about him?”

“Left…behind…” It was all she could hear between all the voices.

Riley ran out of the room when he heard that after talking to some people he made his way to the pool where Klaire was at.