Sand and Snow

Cassidy stood up and walked to the sink poring some water f or her self as she spoke "she's got no worries there, I'm not weak like Ronata nor am I a seer like jess, so I can't be affected buy Khaats seers powers or past " she said drinking it as she moved to sit down "as for shifts I'll stay here for as long as I can , Right now my priority is Khaat and making sure ...they don't try again." she looked at Angus and smiled "don't worry all work and no play makes this woman a dull person , that's kinda the reason I want to learn to cook, you have good buns "she smirked as she finished her drink.

Angus laughed out loud at her last comment. "I'd tell you it was the jeans, but it isn't. Its Brian's insistance on working out every day no matter what. He designs an individual plan for all of us based on our strengths and our weaknesses. Like he's done with you. He's designed a plan for you that, for right now, starts with rehabbing that muscle. Once its functioning at a normal level, he'll work on toning and strength training, flexibility, agility, and more things than you thought you could do. He'll work on increasing your speed and accuracy with a wand, your power at spells, all of that. You want to be a warrior? You've come to the right place."

Cassidy blushed at his mentioning her calf muscle " you know about that wow that was fast " she said " did he tell you how I got it ?" she asked moving it so he could see it I'd been asked by a family to find there baby girl she'd been taken a week earlier by some men while shopping , well to cut along story short I found her and while running didn't see the wire I jumped it cut , took me out for a week" she slid her trouser leg, never bothered me till two days ago " she looked at him " Brian set me some exercises but it made it worse , may have been the extra lap I did too that didn't help "

"Brian tells me anything that he believes might be helpful in my abillity to provide for Khaat or her safety or the girls. And he depends on me to back him up when he's on shift guarding Khaat. And I do know what its like to have a damaged muscle. I tore a back muscle in a brawl in Paris, fighting against one of Geldling's men a couple years ago. It laid me up for weeks. I barely remember Brian carrying me back to the headquarters that night. But I was bedfast for a couple of weeks and then it took me longer to be able to be back in action. And I do know that when I started to train and do rehab, it certainly hurt worse before it got better. If you're concerned, have Brian check it. You might be expecting a lot in a very short period of time. That may be too much."

Cassidy listened to him wincing when he said he was laid up for weeks "bet all the nurses loved that , you flat on your back" she said chuckling "but your right , I was told once it had to get worse before it would get better, guess I'm no good at judging when I have done enough" she sat back in her chair looking at him "I guess I do push myself a bit too far " She stood up and looked at the loaf "needs something else , chocolate sauce ?" she asked looking at him "I know , I'm going off on a tangent again " she said her cheeks turned alight pink.

"Chocolate?" he frowned. "Nah. " He got butter out of the fridge and put some on a slice, broke the slice in two and handed her a piece. "This is all it needs. Sometimes enough is enough. More would be too much. Try that."

"You don't have to know when enough is enough for your training. All you really need to do is to trust that Brian knows. And he does know. If your pain bothers you, then ask him to check your muscle. My guess is that you overdid it just a bit. If he tells you to pull back, then do it. It'll be alright."

He put the banana bread in his mouth and said. "Better. Thats all I think it needs."

Cassidy watched him and took the piece he offered , tasting it she smiled then finished it " Mumm, thats good "she said "well it seems ok for now, but I haven't done any swimming today" she said "I'll speak to Brian about it , what about you, when do you swim or work out, I don't see you using pool when we do" she asked cleaning up the counter where she had cut the loaf. she glanced at him beside her "I can't help wonder why a man as good looking like you likes to cook ".

"I get up earlier than you all do," he smiled. "I'm up by 3 am or 4 am. I work out, I go take care of the animals in the barn, and I come back and shower and clean up and start breakfast. By the time Brian and Khaat have gone back upstairs to shower after working out, I have scones baking, I have bathed the girls and have them dressed, and have breakfast in the works. Of course that means that normally, I do need to go to bed just a little earlier than you, but well, I have half a days work in by the time you guys finish your morning coffee.

"By the time the morning is out, I'll have the kitchen cleaned up, lunch and dinner in the works, laundry caught up, and house cleaning spells in place. I do take some shortcuts. The place is just too big not to. In good weather, I sometimes will set a spell on the mower to get it to mow the grass and a spell to weed the flowerbeds. One of the few things I do mostly by hand is taking care of the animals or taking care of the girls. They need the attention. I believe in giving my attention to living things. Not inanimate objects...."

As he spoke he heard Abbey give a wail and start to cry. "Dakota," he sighed. "She loves to torment Abbey, and Abbey has not learned to fight back. Poor thing. She's always on the wrong end of Dakota's energy. You get one and I'll get the other?" he asked. "They're in the living room, it sounds like."

Cassidy listened then sighed as she heard Abbey crying , " sure " she said to him asking if she could get Dakota , she moved into the living room still thinking about what he had said about his work day she didn't realize just how hard he worked around the place bending down she picked up Dakota sighed "why do you always make trouble for yourself it gets you know where" she said softly sitting down and softly singing a soft lullaby to her she had not done anything like it before but found it relaxed her just as much as Dakota .

Angus picked up Abbey and moved at once to comfort her. She curled into his shoulder, clinging to him, still crying. He just naturally walked the floor with her, soothing her. "She's a pest," Angus said to Abbey, "I know. I know what siblings are like. You're gonna have to learn how to swat her back, Kiddo."

Brian came downstairs upon hearing Abbey cry. "Don't tell me. Dakota? Again?" he asked.

"Of course. Abbey's fine," Angus said. "The kid just won't fight back."

"Not yet," Brian said. "She will. If she's going to be my daughter, she'll fight."

"Well, as Robert's granddaughter, its in her blood," Angus said.

"Give her time," Brian said. "I just came down for a snack for Khaat. She has to start eating again now that she can." He went into the kitchen, letting them deal with the girls. He found the banana bread and put a couple of slices on a plate with some slices of fresh fruit. Pear, apple,and orange. He poured a carafe of coffee and took it back upstairs.

"See?" Angus looked at Cassidy and laughed. "The man lives and breathes rehab and training."