(no subject)

For the past two weeks, Gabriel has been spending longer and longer evenings at the Cortex terminal in his home office. Driven by renewed hope, he rarely leaves the screen from the time he comes home until the darkest hours of the morning when he finally drags himself to bed-- constantly scanning, doing more and more searches, seeking to find anything of use. Or waiting to be found again, perhaps.

You are to tell no one of this. There will be no second chance this time. He'd done what they asked, and this time he'd said nothing at all, to anyone.

Regan Tam is not aware of the details of her husband's research project, and truthfully she doesn't care. It's his behavior that matters, and the longer hours with less sleep are taking a toll on him. Soon enough, that strain will become visible to others of their circle, of that she's perfectly aware.

After dinner, he secludes himself in his office once more for the evening. It's not long after that when Regan, lips tightly compressed with irritation, comes through the door.

"Gabriel. We need to talk."

The running search on the screen goes dark as he swiftly presses a button. "Regan, I've asked you before not to interrupt me when I'm working--"

"It's happened again, hasn't it? Those people you warned me about before, the ones with all the fēng kuáng de ideas-- the ones who you said were telling all those lies? They've contacted you again after all this time, haven't they? Only this time you've listened to them, instead of reporting it."

He hadn't expected that at all, and it's obvious to both of them. Although he recovers quickly, opening his mouth to deny it, it's the second of startled hesitation that's the real answer to all her questions, and her temper flares visibly. "I don't believe it. Gabriel, are you trying to destroy this family? I won't have it."

The pain is sharp, like the twist of a knife in his gut. It's far too late, Regan. I've already done it. As he slowly gets to his feet, his outrage is clear, but whether it's for himself or her is less apparent.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." Flatly said, without room for negotiation. "And I'm not inclined to explain myself to you, Regan. You're just going to have to trust me."

"Oh, is that so," she hisses. "You húndàn. I'm your wife, your partner in this marriage-- how dare you treat me this way? We were lucky before, but if you keep on like this you'll ruin everything that we've worked for--" She breaks off there, breathing rapidly for a few moments while she fights to regain her composure.

"Well. Be that as it may, you're going to explain it." Regan draws herself up, looking at him coldly. "I've reported it for you, Gabriel."

The look on her face is one of honest surprise as he blanches. The world seems to swim around him, and his ears are ringing with the shock-- loud enough that he almost misses her saying, "They promised they'd be discreet if you cooperate, and you are going to cooperate, because I will not have another scandal, do you hear me?"

Regan continues, "Now, they'll be here any minute. I suggest you--"

Without a word, Gabriel Tam brushes past her. He doesn't have much time to prepare.

(no subject)

Gabriel doesn't know if Cathcart and Charrington believed him or not, and he suspects that it doesn't matter in any case.

"We're not through yet."

He's been given a reprieve, ostensibly to gather information, but he knows perfectly well that it's a ruse only. As he walks through his front door, he doesn't even need to look back to know that the officers who returned him to the estate have taken up guard positions.

If it were just the matter of the gunslinger research, of losing contact with whoever it is that sent the last message, he'd accept that. But the real problem, Gabriel thinks, is that he knows too much. He knows where his children are.

"I don't suppose you're from the Serenity?"

"I have to get out of here," he mutters in some desperation as he heads automatically for his office. Thankfully, Regan is nowhere in sight. "I have to do something -- I can't go back. If I do-- if they find out-- if they find Simon and River--"

If they do, there's no miracle that could possibly save his children a second time. Not when it's the Alliance that wants them. Who could possibly help?

He hears Simon's voice in his memory, bitterly angry: "And if I had to travel to the rutting end of the universe before I found people who would help me and River--"

Still frantically trying to think of an escape, Gabriel steps through the office door.