When Evil Prevails

Section 1

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.
 

        Viktor Loubar looked down at the small package in his hands.  The grin that came to his face was dark, it was the smile of someone about to perform an act they knew would hurt.  He was going to enjoy it.
 

        Angie looked around the loft, Rollie's makeshift bed sat in the corner downstairs.  He'd insisted that she sleep upstairs, but at first she'd resisted, sleeping on the couch.  She knew it was a new bed, that'd been the first thing Rollie had done, he knew it would only bring back memories.

        Tears gathered in her eyes again and she sat down, remembering the humiliation, the pain she'd felt as Loubar had removed the mask, revealing he wasn't Rollie.  ' How could I?  How could I have mistaken him for Rollie?  It was meant to be special, I waited so long for Rollie to make a move, Loubar knew that, he used it against me.  How can Rollie still want me here with him?' Angie asked herself and she knew the answer, because, despite everything, he loved and cared for her more than anyone else, even his errant father Dingo.

        Rollie had been quiet, hadn't probed her for details she hadn't wanted to share, taking what information she'd given him with a pain of his own, blaming himself for not being there for her, for failing to protect her… again.  Angie looked up, she didn't blame Rollie and he hadn't said a word when she'd stepped away from him, almost in horror one night when he'd moved across the floor silently.  She'd seen the pain that had caused him and had known it was Rollie, Loubar wouldn't have cared one way or another.

        At least Loubar was dead though, she knew the police hadn't found the body but she must have hit him at least once, and it was a long way to anywhere safe, cops had been around in moments.  The thought that he might be alive made her start to shake.

        When Rollie walked up the stairs and saw her, he clumped his feet loudly, he didn't want to startle her again.  He sat down by the stairs, looking across the floor, down at the floor and back to her.  She'd flinched when she'd seen him and now she sat, watching him carefully.
        ' Angie are you ok?' he asked from where he sat.
        ' I'll be fine Rol' Angie replied, glancing over, noting the small scar, the unruly brown hair, the eyes.  They'd lost the sparkle they had had when she'd first met him thirteen years ago, the loss of friends, and now this ordeal with Loubar had worn down even his optimism and lively spirit.
        ' Yeah, I know.  You're not going to break' Rollie replied, even his voice sounded lifeless.
        ' What about you Rol?  Talk to me' Angie asked, almost pleading ' You've been walking around like a zombie from a b-grade movie'
        ' I'll live' Rollie answered depressed, adding ' if I want to' in a whisper.

        She heard anyway.  ' I need you Rollie, you're the only thing I have to hold onto' Angie said, standing up and moving hesitantly across the floor.

        He could see the hesitation, the mistrust in her eyes, in the way she moved.  She isn't even sure it's me and not him Rollie thought.  That was what hurt the most.  ' I'm not going anywhere Ange.  You need me I'll be here' Rollie answered, getting to his feet and starting towards the stairs.

        ' We haven't talked Rollie' Angie said sternly, it was time to have this out.
        ' What's there to say?  Nothing has changed' Rollie answered standing on the top step.
        ' You know that's not true' Angie retorted.
        ' What do you want from me Angela?  Do you want to hear that I love you?  I do.  That I can't stand what Loubar did to you with my face?  I can't, it eats me up inside.  Do you want to know that the only thing I think about now is how to stop anything else from happening to you even though you flinch away every time I come near you?  That I just want to hold you like I used to and tell you everything is going to be alright except I'm so afraid that if I do you'll think I'm Loubar and it'll destroy EVERYTHING between us?  I don't know WHAT TO DO Angela, I just don't know' Rollie finished with a sob.

         Angela stood there, tears in her own eyes looking at her partner, her friend, her family.  She realised that he'd been there for her through everything despite the guilt and worry he felt, that he'd listened to her tell what parts she could but that she'd never asked him what HE had felt.

        ' You showed me Angie, something I knew but something I wasn't sure how to deal with.  You showed me that you loved me in a way that was more than our friendship, none of this would have happened if you didn't love me, OR if I'd done something about this earlier.  You know I don't have many close friends and that I keep most people at a distance.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to change our friendship because it's more important to me than any of the others, that YOU are more important to me Angela.' Rollie said, more composed now, but still having to stop several times ' That it was Loubar makes me angry at him, not you, because I know that even though it was Loubar… you gave yourself, your love to him because you thought it was me.  I just wish it had been'

         Rollie's opening all the doors, letting me in despite how I reacted, telling me exactly what he feels and how he felt before.  He said he loved me.  Angela found she couldn't control it now and the tears slid down her cheeks.  Moving the last few steps to where Rollie stood, eyes downcast she took a breath and stepped closer, sliding her arms around him for the first time since that night.

         The light that reappeared in Rollie's eyes as he turned to look at her was so warm, so tender, so PROUD that it made her just want to cry all over again.  As she rested her head against his chest she could feel the wild beat of his heart as she held him.

         Rollie looked at her in shock, stunned that she'd managed it.  Very very slowly he slid his hands up, lifting her head so he could look her in the eyes, gently wiping away the tears.  No words were exchanged but Rollie saw a glimpse of hope in her eyes.  He carefully wrapped her in a hug, aware of how tentative her hold was on him, not wanting her to feel threatened.

         I'm not moving Angie kept thinking to herself, this is Rollie, my best friend, he loves me, I love him, we're family.  Repeating it over and over she managed to keep herself from flying apart.  She could feel how gently he put his arms around her, obviously not wanting to alarm her, even now being so considerate, loving and caring.  Manny left me in good hands she thought, tightening her hold a little, becoming a bit more at ease.
 

         They stood that way for some time, gradually becoming accustomed to each other.  Rollie had relaxed somewhat, he’d finally spilled his feelings for her, and it felt good knowing that she felt, in some way, the same.  He couldn’t believe how much he’d wanted to tell her that and that he’d been afraid to.
 
        Angie held on, it was almost the longest embrace they’d shared, only after Manny’s funeral had been longer.  It was starting to feel nice, warm and secure, she hadn’t felt so safe in a long time.

        The loft was dark now, and Rollie commanded his robot dog Blue to turn the lights on.  Angie and Rollie moved down the steps to the lounge, Rollie moving the few steps it required to the kitchen, putting on the kettle, it was growing cold and he always felt it more than his partner.
 

        ‘ What are we going to do Ange?’ Rollie asked quietly returning with the cups and handing one to her.
 
         Angie shook her head slowly, not knowing what to say.  They’d come a long way today but she could still remember exactly what had happened, remembered telling Mira that Rollie could never find out, but Angie had told him in the end, he was her best friend, he deserved to know.

        ‘ We know how we each feel now Angie but I know it’s going to be hard for you to deal with.  I won’t push, take your time, I’ll wait for you, I’d rather be sure you know what you want’ Rollie continued.

         Angie’s lips turned up a little.  He was so understanding, what had she done to deserve him.
        ‘ I know what I want Rollie, I’ve known for a long time.  My father saw it straight away, how you were the first one I really took a shine to.  I want to be with you Rollie, for you to be with me.  You’re right though, it’s going to take time to feel comfortable’ Angie replied.
        ‘ Like I said angel, all the time you want’ said Rollie.

        Silence sat on the loft, the sounds filtering in from outside distant, muffled.
 

        They retired early, not working at the moment but Rollie had his eyes out, maybe work would put this out of his mind, hopefully out of Angie’s as well.
         Rollie gave Angie a gentle goodnight hug, kissing her ever so nervously on the forehead before she disappeared upstairs to bed.  Rollie moved to the small bed he’d made up downstairs and climbed in, it had been a long time since he’d even let himself dream about him and Angie together, now it might happen he felt happier than he had in a long while.
 

         Viktor Loubar looked down at several small parcels laid out on the wobbly old table.  The room was slightly grubby but he’d seen far worse, especially in south-eastern Asia when he’d been forced to labor with peasants until he’d escaped, returning later with some help to show them who was boss.
 
        The things on the table made him grin, he’d tried to think of every important part he could, every little thing he could use to drive the wedge further between Ramirez and Tyler.
 
        The more he thought about it the more he liked the idea he’d come up with, he knew how protective Tyler was of his assistant and right now he’d failed her enormously.  He knew Tyler’s anger would be directed at himself and it was exactly as he’d planned.  He’d lost a lot of money at Tyler’s interference and he planned to make him pay.

        Finishing up he dropped onto the bed, thinking that at least the sheets were clean and weren’t infested.  When sleep overtook him, the dream came.  For some reason he couldn’t figure, he only ever dreamed the one dream.