Colin MacGregor

Colin gratefully leapt off of the boat and onto the dock as the Flounder pulled into her berth in Savannah harbor. He could hear Sean and CJ working out the final details with Marvole and took the opportunity to hurry up the pier and onto solid ground. He resisted the urge to kneel and kiss the dirt, but grinned to himself as he crossed into the gravel parking lot.

He made no noise as he walked over the loose stones; none moved under his shoes, no rocks dug into his bare feet and he had to fight off the temptation to manifest solely for the purpose of feeling something. After the constant stream of memories of the past several hours, the urge to try and recapture any sensation from life was nearly overwhelming.

He resisted, however, reminding himself that he needed to conserve his strength, if nothing else. Never mind that Orpheus had strict regulations against PLE manifestations whenever there was the possibility of being seen by someone outside of the crucible. It would never do for a ghost to be recognized, of course, particularly not when they could be connected with Orpheus.

Colin sighed as he reached the van and turned to look for the others. There was no sign of them, apparently the final negotiations were taking longer than he had expected. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he paced down the aisle of the parking lot away from the docks. The lot sloped gradually upwards, and he found himself at the top of the hill, looking out over the roofs of the warehouses along the pier and out at the brightly lit bay. The noontime sun glittered on the waves, casting shimmering reflections on the various sailboats, cargo ships, and fishermen coming and going from the harbor and Colin smiled slightly as the beautiful sight.

One sailboat in particular caught his attention, slipping loose of the harbor and heading out into the open ocean, cresting the steadily building waves of the incoming tide with a spray of white. Colin smiled to himself as the sight brought back memories of Galway Bay, and sitting on the pier there with his father, watching the boats heading out for the day's work. A circling gull far above him cried out, calling to others, and soon a flock was gathering, swooping lower and lower as a fisherman's ship nudged its way against a dock.

He wasn't sure how long he watched the ships moving about the bay, but the roar of an engine starting up shook him out of his reverie. He quickly stood and hurried back down the hill - just in time to see the white van pulling out of the far entrance.

"Bugger." Colin clenched his fists as he watched his crucible drive off without him. Apparently I dinnae need tae call upon the stains tae nay be noticed. The anger swelled within him, but he fought to quash it. Tis me own bloody fault. Now wha' do I do abou' i'?

He stood staring out at the road the van had taken and considered his options. With juggernaut, he could make pretty good time, but the thought of running back to Atlanta wasn't a particularly pleasant one. Even given that he wouldn't physically tire, keeping that level of horror active for an extended period would drain him pretty thoroughly. There was the hope that they'd notice and come back for him, which seemed likely, but there was no telling when it might happen.

Ten minutes later he made up his mind to start after the others on foot, figuring that if he saw them coming back he could flag them down. As he walked out of the gates of the parking lot, however, an older woman emerged from a nearby office building.

"I'll be back with lunch in a few minutes", she said over her shoulder as she fumbled through her large black purse.

Colin grinned to himself. Nay, lass. More like a few hours. As the woman pulled her keys out of her purse, Colin steadily walked up behind her and placed an insubstantial hand on her shoulder. Slowly taking hold of the silvery strands running the length of her body, he pulled himself inside her head and took a deep breath as he settled into complete control of her body.

Quickly unlocking the door of the dark blue Crown Victoria the woman had approached, Colin forced his host into the car and started the engine. "We'll just not mention this to Kate, shall we?", the woman's voice asked before her lips spread into a grin.

Colin pulled the car out of the parking spot and out onto the street. "All coming back to me, don't you worry, ma'am", he said to himself knowing the woman was unaware of anything that was happening. Following the signs to the interstate, he quickly began to pick up speed, remembering the ninety-mile-an-hour-plus trip Sean had made on the way down.

After almost an hour driving up I-6, Colin saw a familiar looking white van ahead. He smiled broadly, and carefully pulled up next to the Dodge. He quickly set the Crown Vic's cruise control and slowly released his hold on his host.

The woman came to with a start, and swerved gently to the right, away from the van , luckily. Colin winced as he left her in full, if confused control of the vehicle, and quickly leapt out of the car and into the van.

CJ cursed from the driver's seat as she tried to avoid the careening Crown Victoria in the next lane, which was rapidly slowing down and pulling off onto the shoulder.

Meanwhile, the slightly mismatched speeds hurled Colin backwards through the first row of seats and he manifested abrubtly to keep from flying out through the back doors.

"Oof", he spat out as the seat halted his movement and he found himself staring up at Sean's startled face. "Och, the guys in the Matrix made tha' look easy. Now, how abou' nex' time, ye dinnae drive off till ye count noses?"

Sean stared at him open mouthed, and the van swerved again as CJ spun around to look back at them.

"Dammit, kid!", the ex-detective spluttered as she fought to bring the Dodge back under control. "I thought you were back there!"

Liz raised an eyebrow at him, then shrugged. "We were a bit distracted", she said softly. "Sorry."

Liz looked over at the skinrider with a solemn expression. "Sean just got word from his father - his sister died last night."

Colin's jaw dropped and he turned to look at the skimmer. "Och, God, Sean...", Colin stammered, flailing for words. "I'm sorry..."

Sean shook his head, dismissing the apology. "S'allright", he muttered. "You didn't know."

"E'en still...I'm such a tool." Colin reached out to put a hand on Sean's arm. "Wha' happened?"

Sean exhaled, and covered Colin's hand with his own, giving it a squeeze. "My brother-in-law found her unconscious in their bedroom. Doctors said it was a prescription induced coma." He swallowed. "She had been suffering from Crohn's Disease for about ten years on and off. When it was first diagnosed, her specialist performed surgery, but it came back after about 5 years of being in remission.

"This time her doctors recommended a prescription drug treatment and added a pain management specialist to the team observing her. From what my brother-in-law told me, when he called the night before the Tethys mission, she had either tried to see the pain specialist or had seen him and not been treated in a timely fashion."

Sean took a deep breath and shuddered a little before continuing. "Whichever it was was cause enough, it seems, for her to elect to administer the dose herself. As part of her treatments there was an IV connector inserted into her arm so they didn't have to keep sticking her over and over again. The pain meds she took were to be taken orall, but they say it looks like she took the same dosage through the IV port."

Sean nodded as Liz spoke up. "She would have absorbed the medication directly into her system via the IV. Usually, a large part of the dosage taken orally is burned off by the digestive system."

Sean curled up into himself and nodded again. "We think so, but the toxicology could take up to eight weeks after..." He took another shuddering breath. "After the autopsy. I'd be on a plane out of Savannah right now , but the arrangements are still being worked out for the investigation."

Sean straightened his head up and turned to look out the window at the passing fields, broken only by an occasional pine tree. "So, for now it's a good thing that Orpheus has something for me to do until I get further word from the old homestead."

Colin, sensing that Sean didn't want to talk about his sister any further, seized on the new topic. "A new mission?" He turned to Ryan, who nodded.

"Yep, apparently Kate wants us to look into some pigment sales", Ryan replied. "I've got the briefing on my spooktop."

"And our quick will need to look the part of club kids", Marcus said amusedly. "Sounds like we're going to be spending some of Orpheus' money down at Junkman's Daughter to outfit Sean and CJ."

"Not me", Sean said in an almost normal tone. "I've got the gear at home. Probably something CJ could wear as well." He managed a ghost of a smile as CJ chuckled.

"Do I want to know why you've got something in my size?", the ex-detective asked. "I know you haven't had any lady friends to leave things behind."

"I might have", Sean said a bit defensively. "Well, maybe not ladies in the traditional sense..."

Colin chuckled. "Well, if we're trying tae buy pigment, ye prob'ly dinnae wan' tae look like a cop." He bent over Ryan's spectral computer and began reading the mission briefing.

"So, CJ, how do you feel about something in black velvet that shows off your midriff?" Sean was smirking. "I've got one top with leopard spots."

"Oh, come on girl!" Ryan was grinning widely. "You need to show off your assets."

"Aye, ye go' a nice set", Colin said absently. "Migh' as well take advantage..." The ghost trailed off and clasped a hand over his mouth suddenly and sat back from reading the briefing. "Och..."

"What is it?" Liz looked over his shoulder and shook her head. "It's just a standard mission..."

"Yes?", Liz asked confusedly. "Seems to indicate a standard poltergeist based on what I've read. Should be fairly easy to deal with."

"Well, ah..." Colin glanced over at Ryan with an embarrassed expression. "Ye know how I asked ye a while back if ye wanted tae come ou' wi' the res' o' us ghosts? The Wednesday nigh' outings?"

Ryan nodded slowly. "Yeah, but that's movie night with Gran and Patrick. I couldn't go."

Colin smirked. "Tha's nay wha' ye said a' the time. When ye heard i' was a' the Chamber, I think yuir exact response was 'Please, I'm so o'er tha' whole goth thing'."

Ryan snorted and waved a hand dismissively. "Well, it's true. Goth is just a fashion statement for ugly people."

"Aye, well, we've been after going tae the Chamber e'ery week", Colin said quietly. "God, Kate is gwan tae kill me. Again."

Ryan suddenly laughed out loud. "I got it! The sightings...!" The hue suddenly burst into a fit of giggles and couldn't say anything around the laughter.

Colin looked everywhere but at the former FBI agent. "Tha' was Paul", he murmured. "Good guy, poltergeist, been wi' Orpheus abou' four months since he got nailed by a drunk driver."

Liz continued to stare at him while Sean, Marcus, and Ryan laughed. CJ shook her head with a wry grin as she continued driving.

"Well, now that we've established the likely cause of the disturbances", CJ paused as she gave Colin a rueful grin in the rear view mirror. "We need a plan to acquire this pigment sample. Would our esteemed project leader care to offer any suggestions?" The skimmer shifted her gaze, which turned far less friendly, to Max, who had been sitting quietly directly behind her.

The older wisp shrugged. "My job is Project Leader and Advisor, as an extension of the Crucible's Training Team. I'm here to help you deal with Orpheus policy and procedures, not necessarily as a field leader." He grinned smugly as he continued. "Actually, it sounds like it's about time you guys selected a Lead Investigator for the Crucible. If you need a brush up on Crucible Structure, see page 60 of your training manual. I'm sure you have all read that cover to cover by now." He followed up the comment with a knowing smile.

Colin looked over at him with a smirk. "Training manual. Righ'. Read i' several times, o' course."

CJ grinned herself. "Never read the police procedural manual. I'll let you guess how much time I spent on Orpheus' particular boat anchor. And as far as leopard print, just one word. No. Leather jacket and jeans will be fine."

"Och, yuir gwan tae be undercover, lass." Colin gave her an evil smile. "Girls a' this club wear stuff tha' shows off their ti...assets. Ye should flaunt wha' ye go'."

"You never know", Sean chimed in. "You could catch the eye of one of Jonestown's entourage."

"I'm not the type to turn heads, Sean." CJ returned. "And you, 'lad', are far too young to be commenting on my 'assets'."

"Well, if yuir nay gwan tae show off yuir Britney's, ye should a' leas' find something to highlight yuir J-Lo", Colin replied, still grinning.

Colin resisted the urge to keep going, but stopped, satisfied with the flattered expression he could see on her face in the rear-view mirror.

CJ caught him looking and shook her head. "Great", she muttered, "compliments on my figure from gay men and an underage ghost."

"If we could leave my downtime activities out of this, please?" Max asked with a chuckle.

"Well, ye should a' leas' pick up the Harley", Colin said to CJ. "If we dinnae wan' tae attract attention, we should nay show up in a big, official looking van."

Sean grinned. "Finally. I can carry the others in my car, it's been seen at the Chamber before."

"Are we going in tonigh'?" Colin suddenly asked. "Ye quick ha'e been up for almos' 24 hours." He looked from Sean to CJ.

Sean yawned. "A disco nap might not be a bad idea, unless CJ plans to drink her weight in Starbucks between now and then. Should be able to grab a few hours, anyway."

"A couple of cups of coffee and I'll be fine." CJ shrugged. "I don't think we'll have time for much of a nap."

Colin frowned. "Still, I dinnae see anything in the briefing tha' makes this an urgent mission."

Scowling, Colin muttered "I dinnae think tha's such a good idea, bu' if the quick say they're up for i', I will nay argue."

"If you need someone to investigate the office", Liz said thoughtfully, "I can do that. Depending on how easily accessible it is, I could go in undetected, haunting something one of our skimmers carries in, and pop out into the office when I'm nearby. If pigment use is indeed heavy in this club, then we spooks might want to keep a low profile, especially around club patrons.

"I've never been to a goth bar before", the haunter added with a smile. "Should be interesting."

CJ's cellphone rang then, as they headed out through the northern outskirts of Macon. She quickly slid the phone out of her pocket and pulled over onto the shoulder. Taking a few steps from the van, she began gesturing wildly, obviously angered by whatever the caller had to say.

"CJ, jus' ge' in the back! I can drive for awhile", Colin shouted out through the open driver's door as he sat down in her vacated seat.

"You - in the back. You're not driving", CJ said as she hung up the phone and walked back over. After Colin vacated, the former detective slid into the seat, started the engine and merged back into traffic.

CJ ignored him as she threaded through the steadily thickening late afternoon traffic.

Colin leaned over and tapped Max on the shoulder. "This is the bi' where ye ge' us tae work as a team. She's nay sharin' wi' the group."

Max grinned. "She fancies herself and Alpha, lad, not much I can do. The group dynamic has to sort itself out." The older man shrugged.

"She's a big girl and if she doesn't think she needs a nap, fine by me... I just hope she has the juice to do what needs to be done when we get there."

The wisp leaned over and whispered to Colin, "And if she doesn't , then I think it will be a lesson well learned by all."

"I heard that," CJ glared at the smug project leader. "I'll have plenty of juice."

With a sigh, the former detective glanced back at the group. "For the rest of you, sorry. I have a friend in the APD - Name's Joe. He's been helping me along when I need information from the APD database. He was able to find some information on the Chamber's bartender, Chandler. Seems the guy's little more than a two-bit hustler. The APD can't touch him for anything."

She smirked as she watched the road. "Seems my friend is certain this guy can spot a cop anywhere, even an ex-cop. He warned me to stay as far away from him as possible." Her smirk faded into a grimace. "He warned me not to talk to the guy, so I guess that puts me out of that contact."

"That's good to know", Max said with an irritating grin. "And I find your selective hearing most adorable my caffeine addicted biker...beauty." He winked at her reflection in the mirror and blew her a kiss.

CJ pursed her lips. "You ever do that again, and I'll personally shred your gauze myself."

"Oy", Ryan put a hand to his forehead. "All these emotions going back and forth are giving me a headache. Y'all need to learn to control them, or I will do it for you."

Max muttered something so quietly that Colin couldn't understand most of it, but burst into a laugh when he heard the words 'sweet cheeks'.

"Don't you worry about my bacon, Mr. Profitt." CJ apparently had no trouble making out what Max had said.

"For the record", Max said irritably, "I hope you are right and that this creepy old man doesn't have to save your bacon anytime soon. Rest assured that despite your wishes to the contrary and probably my better judgment, I will be saving your bacon if the need arises. Not because of your oh-so-lady-like charms but because it's my bloody job."

"Max", Ryan said quietly, "I don't think she meant anything by it, but we're all kind of worn out and..."

"I have nothing but your best interests at heart", Max continued, his voice rising angrily. "I suggest you all remember that before tonight." With a rippling flash of light, the wisp disappeared.

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DON'T LOOK BACK

Last Updated: January 2, 2004 by Blake Sorensen

#0767 - Left Behind

November 14, 2003