Chapter Text
The waves were gentle as Taylor sat on the beach with her journal. It had been a week since Sully and Nate had left, the whole time she had been with Sam, still trying to figure him out.
“Hey Taylor,” Sam held out a bottle to her.
“Guess it’s getting late isn’t it?” She pulled her journal closer to her chest to hide the sketches.
“Little, was debating dinner unless you’re kicking me out of the kitchen.”
Taylor bit her lip a moment. “How about we go into town, there are a few things I want to get anyway.” She stood dusting off her clothes.
“New water colors?”
“If they have the brand I like yes. Because my journal is looking a little dull without a splash of color.” She yelped as her father snagged her journal from her, flipping though it. He stopped when he saw the sketch she was working on.
“When did you start this one?”
“This morning when you were asleep on the couch. I didn’t want to wake you.” She caught his face as he read her notes. Things that were never supposed to be read by anyone else. They were her thoughts about him, things she was still unsure of even though the two had been as open as possible with each other in the time they had spent on Australia. She had even tried to teach him to surf, at his insistence.
Sam looked at her, his daughter who was still essentially a stranger to him, despite the fact they had been honest with each other and had tried to fill in the gaps. It was clear with her written questions, she still didn’t know what to think. It was also clear that the man who had raised her had messed her up. “Taylor I...”
She snatched her journal back. “Don’t worry about it Sam. Just my ramblings, I have notes like that about everyone, even Nate and Sully.” She held it close. “Though, I do wish it could have been that way. Having you and Mom around, maybe I wouldn’t have felt so a-” Her words were cut off as he pulled her into a hug. Feeling his arms around her she relaxed some. “I should have said it earlier, shouldn’t I?”
“You know I always meant to go back to her.” He eased the hug and she turned into him slipping her arms around him to return the hug so it wasn’t too awkward. She was used to hugs from Nathan after all.
“I know. It’s just not in our cards. Should we stay in? Might be better.”
He looked at her. “Figure we’re going to get all this out in the open.” Sam let her go, rubbing the back of his neck. “So again, am I cooking or you?”
“Both of us?” She asked helpfully. “That is if you want.”
“Sounds good. Come on let’s get back.”
--
“You didn’t!” Taylor stirred the gravy she was making with the juice from the steaks they had agreed on.
“Wasn’t my best move, but kept Nate from getting killed.” He watched her as she cooked, pulling the pot off the stove. “Impressed your mother too.”
Taylor paused as she heard that. “Mother was there?”
Sam nodded. “Our first night on the Hawaiian Islands. We actually were looking for David to get some information from him. Rafe went to the meeting leaving us to our own devices.”
Taylor poured the gravy into a dish. “Yeah, I know he sold information. Though David’s is barely worth the money honestly. He doesn’t do as good a job researching things.”
“You learned from him though.”
“I learned how to be better than he was. Which is why when I left, I did screw him over in more than one way. He doesn’t have the information from Cook’s last voyage. Nor does he have the clientele he once had.” She picked up the dish and the bottle of wine they were sharing. Sam snagged the plates going to the table.
“And you insist you’re not one of us.” Sam chuckled.
“I’m not. I’m something different.” She raspberried him and he chuckled. “I have a little more grace, and less fighting experience.” She sighed.
“We can work on that you know. Though don’t take what happened too harsh kid. We were out gunned.” He sat across from her. “Besides, I”m glad my kid has a college degree. Nate and I never really went past high school.”
“I still have the one treasure to find that David wants. Though pretty sure Sully and Nate would kill us if we went on a hunt.”
“I can handle Sullivan. I know my brother and his pops wouldn’t kill you.” He smiled. “After dinner should we at least take a look? Maybe we can organize your notes a little better.”
“That sketch and the ramblings there were just a brain dump Sam.”
--
Sam chuckled as Taylor sat at a cafe waiting for him, her journal out and a small assortment of pencil stubs at hand. He remembered that sight many times when it had come to his brother. Usually it was when he and Sully had been on a job and had left Nate to his own devices.
“I thought you were getting lunch?”
“I ordered it already. Just waiting for it, and knew you’d be late so it’s to go.”
“Not that late. Am I?”
She smirked as she closed her book. “Half hour. Though you’re getting better at it.” She smirked as the waiter came up with the carryout boxes. “Thank you Maxwell.” She smiled at the brunette that had brought the food.
Sam picked up the bag. “So where to kiddo?” He asked glancing around. “Guessing you got everything you wanted in town?”
She nodded. “Yes,” Taylor fell in step beside him. “Though don’t turn around, but there was a guy watching me at the cafe. I think he’s following me.”
Sam glanced at her. “Recognize him?”
“No, though I don’t know everyone in David’s organization.” She whispered as she stretched. “Why else would someone be paying attention to me?”
Sam shook his head at that. “Come on, if they follow us to the parking garage we’ll figure out what they want.” He kept an eye on the windows they passed. The person following them wasn’t that subtle. At least not by the eyes of a thief. Taylor though grabbed Sam’s arm, leading him down an alley instead of his plan. “Hey...”
“I’m betting he doesn’t know the city as well as I do.”
“Should I be surprised?”
“You and Sully didn’t think to ask if I had been here. True the competitions I usually go to are out of Sydney not Perth, but there is charm.” She slid her diving knife from where it hid at the small of her back.
“Again showing you’re one of us.” Sam was impressed, he hadn’t seen the hilt of the blade at all.
Twin darts hit both of them, causing Sam to turn, looking at the rooftops as Taylor shook her head trying to clear it. The figure that had been following them stepped into the alley. “I had wished that it wouldn’t have come to this Miss Lin, don’t worry you nor Mr Morgan will be harmed.”
Sam pulled Taylor behind him to try to protect her, though ended up falling to his knees as the sedative kicked in.
--
Sam wasn’t expecting to wake up on a couch. The room was swaying slightly. Glancing over he saw Taylor was starting to wake nearby. “Kid?”
“I’m okay.” She sat up a little fast and groaned. “Okay mostly okay ow...”
“David?”
She looked around the room shaking her head slightly. “This place isn’t decorated in his style. It’s warm, David prefers things to be cold and sterile.” She saw her knife was on the table near where she woke and picked it up.
The door across the room from them opened. Sam stood as a man, whom looked about Sully’s age, entered. Two figures outside the room closed the door.
“Mr Morgan, or do you prefer Drake?” He glanced at Taylor. “Miss Lin, I assure you you don’t need that blade right now. Though I am sorry that we had to bring you in this way.
Taylor slipped her knife away. The man wasn’t the one that had been following her, though she knew him. “You’re the leader of them aren’t you?”
“Taylor?” Sam glanced at her.
“Yes, though from what our sources have gathered, you clearly want to cut ties with the man that raised you. I take it you never took the oath?”
“I did not. I purposely left a few days before the ceremony.” She reached out touching Sam’s arm. “Sam, let him talk. If he had wanted, I have a feeling that we wouldn’t have woken up. I’m guessing you aren’t as bad as Pops used to try to convince me with his stories.”
William Miles shook his head. “We aren’t. I just wish we would have been able to collect you, your mother and the Morgans before now.”
“Wait. What is that about Me an’ Nate?”
“Right, I should start at the beginning. And I know my men messed up your dinner plans, allow me to escort you to rooms where you can freshen up, then join me in the dinning room.”
Taylor’s hand hadn’t left where the knife had hidden away.
“You will not need that knife Miss Lin, I promise everything will be explained at dinner.”
Her hand moved from her blade. “And you trust I won’t tell the Templars?”
“Our spies have informed us that they were closing in on you. David has gotten the order to have you and your family killed for your stunt with some sort of research.”
“So everyone knows about that?”
“Not where you hid the research. However you did that has even our hackers stumped. Now, will you allow me to escort you?”
–
Taylor paused a moment when she realized she and Sam were being separated. Though she saw Sam’s room was right across the hall from her own. Though turning to her rooms, she noted there was a box sitting on the bed with her name on it, spelled correctly. The box was wrapped with blue ribbon.
Quirking her brow a moment she walked over to it, picking up the card, sitting on the edge of the bed she opened the card.
Taylor,
I know this is not going to give you your mother back, but within this box are some answers you may have about her, as well as many questions. I just hope that this will not turn you away from our goals, though I also will not force you into this life. I know that Kali wished you to be outside.
She read the letter twice her mind racing. Her bag was sitting on the bed next to her box, and checking it, she saw that nothing was missing, her pencils were there, as well as her journal and her phone. Though checking the phone, she couldn’t get a signal. “Couldn’t be that easy, though… Considering my upbringing, I’d be careful of that as well.” She mumbled to herself before she looked at the box again.
Opening it she saw a deep blue bracer and a matching leather journal. Picking up the journal, she flipped though it. It was in Korean, her mother’s handwriting. Taylor saw a photo of her uncle and father near the end. Along with it was information, notes that spoke of potentially asking them to join ranks.
The same entry also hinted that the brothers were going to go on one last hunt, but that Sam had promised to return to the islands. There was also a note that she was a month late.
Taylor looked at the date again. Eight months before I was born. How did he get this journal? Was it sent to him or did he steal it?
She glanced back at the picture. It was a candid shot, both brothers smiling at the camera lifting beer bottles in celebration. Taylor bit her lip in thought. The note that had been included was right, there were more questions than answers.
Another entry struck her.
I’m scared, I’m sure that the Master of the Pacific has figured out who Tak and I are. Mentor I’m sending this to you, and hoping that I can find away for my daughter to get to you. As much as I wanted her raised outside the Order, I fear it may not be possible. I hoped that I could keep her hidden, our bloodlines, and that of her father’s. You really did your work looking into the brothers. Cassandra Morgan? You know that line has been sought by both sides. None of them have chosen one. And Taylor, I won’t have her in the hands of that madman David Anderson. But I cannot deny her the chance to choose her future.
William, please if you take her please give her a life, one better than that we both had as children. I want her to live doing what she wants, not kept as some lab rat. I’ll give my life to make that happen.
A few tear drops hit the page as she read. Her mother had wanted her to live her life. She would have hated how she had been raised. Though Tak had been there, he had been the one to teach her to surf, he had also been the one to tell her stories of Samoa, and to keep her mind free from thinking Assassins were evil. Hell, he had been the one that had helped her get on the boat that had gotten her off the main island.
The knock on the door startled her. “Come in.” Taylor quickly tried to dry her face, not sure what to think yet.
“Hey, he told me about what they left for you. You okay?” Sam asked as he walked in.
“She was a month pregnant with me when you left. She had just found out.” Taylor didn’t stand from the bed. “I think she had been ordered to bring both of you in. I don’t know I only read a few pages. Though what I did read, she was really fond of you.” Taylor closed the book, leaving it on her lap. She would ask their host about things before she brought things up with Sam, at least just yet. Though she tried to search her brain for the family lines that David and Rikkin had been looking for. Morgan wasn’t a name she remembered.
“I remember that book.” Sam said looking at it. “She said she had always kept one.”
“Something else that ties me to her.” She reached up brushing a tear from her eyes. “Sorry, just… Reading something other than the partial letter that David allowed me to have.” She felt him catch her in a hug.
Sam wished that their host had at least let him be here when she had opened the box. When he felt her shoulders hitch he closed his eyes. Last thing he wanted was her crying. “Hey, it’s not a bad thing Taylor.”
“I just… It sucks that I can barely remember her. And what I do remember is vague. Rest of my childhood was screwed over by David.” She sighed.
“Hey, easy Kid.”
“I read her words Sam. She didn’t want this for me. She wanted me out. Probably would have grown up more as a hunter than a book worm.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Yes. You read Korean?”
“Sadly no. One of the few I don’t know. Asian languages just look like squiggly lines to me.”
“So, we go to Asian countries I translate got it. My Arabiac is horrible and those are squiggles to me.” She did actually give a slight giggle though as she picked up the box, carefully putting the book inside with the bracer. “I’m going to have to have a talk with our host.”