When Evil Prevails

Section 15

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.

         Rollie hurried from where he’d parked at the set, he wanted to get a few things done before the others arrived.  Though Frank tried his best and was fine for helping him carry the gear, he didn’t have experience like Angie did, experience to let him help Rollie more than just another laborer.  It was taking Rollie longer to set up the scene than he’d thought it would so he put in extra time to get things right.

        He looked around the huge set, taking in the sheer scope of the project they were working on.  Even Independence Day hadn’t been as large as this.  He was enjoying it, being a part of something bigger, not a cheap b-grade film but one where everything he and Angie had learnt and could do was being pushed to the limit.

        He’d designed quite a lot of different things for the film, and had put together another robot like Bluey, that was part of the film.  Angie had laughed when she had seen what he’d done and even the robotics expert on set had been impressed.

        As he worked his mind flittered back over dinner the night before, smiling at the remembrance of how wary Mira had been of his cooking.  More than anything though he thought of Angie and that in turn made him think of Viktor Loubar.

        The rage at what the man had done still sat within him, a fire that would never be extinguished until one of them was dead.  Frank’s words came back to him again, that Angie needed him more and he’d been right, he just wished that they could put the problem of Loubar away for good.

        Finishing the last few touch-ups that he needed for the first shoot of the morning, Rollie stood and looked around, there were only a few people around and they were all busy with their own work.  Dusting off his hands he started back towards the van, knowing it was likely that Angie and Mira would be there already and that Frank would probably be looking for him.
 

        Angie looked from where she was working on the computer, looking at the  package she’d found outside her door that morning.  Mira had called the bomb squad immediately and they’d reported that it was safe… still, Angie hadn’t opened it, remembering the night she’d stayed and talked with Rollie.

        She shivered, thinking that Loubar could come so close and she didn’t even know.  Surely by now he knew that Mira was staying with her.  ‘ Not that she could stop him if he really wanted something from me’ Angie thought worriedly ‘ except about the only thing left he could do is kill me’

        Shaking her head she tried to put what had happened out of her mind, she concentrated on work and her friendship with Rollie.  Things were changing there as well but for the better, well, as she saw it anyway.  Her father had once commented that Rollie would be one to settle down, he’d moved around so much in his childhood and since his mother had died hadn’t had anything stable to hold onto.  He’d really tried with Taya but it hadn’t worked out, through no fault of his own.
        ‘ Maybe we’ll settle down’ Angie thought to herself with a sudden grin, despite all she’d told him to stay out of her private life she’d wished he’d be a bigger part of it.
 

        ‘ Been working already?’ Frank asked as Rollie arrived.
        ‘ Yeah, had a few things to finish off for this morning’s shoot and things have been taking a little longer without Angie to help’ Rollie replied shooting the detective a grin.

        Frank pulled out the P.D.A, the detector had already sent a “Tyler in vicinity” message to it and he quickly scanned his friend.  Mira was still inside with Angie.
        ‘ Before you go in Rol…’ Frank began.
        ‘ What?’ Rollie asked suddenly getting a bad feeling.
        ‘ Angie got another package, she hasn’t opened it yet’ Frank warned.

        Frank saw his friends hands clench and unclench, trying to control how he was feeling, he could tell Rollie was anything but calm as he seemed.
        ‘ Thanks for the warning’ Rollie muttered.

        Inside the van he saw Angie working at the computer, a small package sat on the bench by the computer and Mira was sitting in the driver’s seat.  She scanned him as well, just to be sure… Angie’s safety was her concern.

        Rollie took the two steps to reach where Angie was sitting and placed a hand on her shoulder.
        ‘ Morning Sweetie’ he whispered, crouching down by her chair.
        ‘ Hi Rol’ Angie replied trying to sound cheerful.
        ‘ Frank told me you got another package.  Is that it?’
        ‘ Yep, outside my apartment this morning’
        ‘ Are we going to open it or just ditch it?’
        ‘ I was waiting for you to get here’

         Rollie nodded as Angie picked up the package and started undoing the wrapping on it.  When she opened it Rollie saw at once that part of it was the wig Loubar must have worn and the other was the mask.  Reaching down, Rollie lifted the mask free and turned it over in his hands, examining its construction thinking all the time how amazing it was… Angie had been right when she’d told him that the mask had been perfect, seeing this he could believe it.
        ‘ Damn it Rol he tricked me.  Why couldn’t I tell it wasn’t you?’ she said, trying hard to control the feelings these packages kept bringing on.
 
         Rollie nodded for Mira and Frank to leave, his look was direct and wasn’t one to argue with.  The two detectives stepped outside.
        ‘ Seeing this Ange, I don’t think I could have picked it either’ Rollie replied lying the mask on the desk ‘ It wasn’t your fault Ange’
 

         Frank watched as Mira stood by the door, pretending to be doing her job but only showing that she was straining to hear what Rollie and Angie were talking about inside.  He smiled, if she heard anything he bet it would be a big surprise… he had an idea that things were changing between the two partners, especially after what Rollie had told him, but if they wanted Mira to know they’d tell her.
 
 

        Then Rollie was holding her tightly and he was amazed, she was trusting him more and more and was turning to him again when she needed someone to talk to.  He could tell that these packages were still hurting her, more than she let on, and that his presence was, at least, seeming to help a little.
        ‘ Ange… whatever he did to you…I still love you and he can’t do anything about that’

         Angela looked up at Rollie, she couldn’t express how much what he’d just said to her meant.  There was something about him, the look that he always had for her when she needed to feel loved.  Blue eyes locked to brown and a message of mutual caring passed between them.  Angela leaned into the embrace.  It felt different, not bad, only different.  It wasn’t the normal bear-hug he gave her, or the friendly arm around the shoulders, this was much more… intimate.  When his eyes locked onto hers again and saw that she’d felt the difference.  He smiled and reached his lips towards hers, meeting them halfway as she responded in kind.

         For so long their friendship had been bordering on a more intimate kind of relationship and until now neither of them had thought they were ready to take the next step.  It had happened though and standing there, holding each other, the kiss lingering on, neither of them had a thought to spare for Viktor Loubar.   Their only thoughts were for each other, for how much they loved the other and how good it was to have someone so close, one who understood everything that had happened.

        ‘ So when are we going out?’ Angie asked quietly.
        ‘ Out?’ Rollie asked.
        ‘ Our first date… you know’
        ‘ Oh… hmmm… how about tonight?’

         Angie laughed at his answer, a warm sound that made him want to smile and he joined in.
        ‘ What?  You’re saying no already?’ Rollie asked finally.
        ‘ Tonight it is’
        ‘ Really?’
        ‘ Yes Rollie, tonight’

         He held her a moment longer, feeling the silky softness of her hair as she rested her head against him.
        ‘ I guess we’ve got work to do’ he said reluctantly.
        ‘ Yeah I guess.  Be back for lunch ok?’
        ‘ I’ll be here’

         Mira stepped past Rollie as he stepped down from the van, wanting to check on Angie.  Frank looked at his friend, the grim look that had haunted his features since the first gift had arrived, and even before that, was gone for once.  Something good had come from everything Loubar had done, and instead of forcing them apart, as it had seemed to do he was sure that it had bound them even closer together than they had been.