Finding Femininity

"That would work," Brian said. "Especially for situations where women do not want a guy around. I do already work there parttime. If Khaat goes back to work, so do I. I have resigned from my post as an auror at the ministry. Khaat needs me more. That's all there is to it. Personally, I say whoever you have near her needs to wear healer's robes. Blend in."

"Well, that works until someone asks Steven to diagnose or heal something," Robert sighed.

"Then dress us all in black slacks, black jacket, white shirt."

"American Fed suits?" Robert frowned.

"Maybe you want to intimidate. Maybe that's the whole point."

"I say we go as we are. We dress repectably in order to be with her, but we go as we are. We arent' going to deter a while hell of a lot no matter what we wear. Let Brian wear the healer robe, and Jess can wear the probationary uniform while she learns. She'll be the least suspected that way. I don't think that Steven and I should wear healers' robes. It just won't work. We'd be better to just to go as we are," Angus said.

"I suggest we ask Khaat," Brian said.

"Uh, no." Robert said. "I know what she'll say. She'll refuse us utterly and completely. We're not doing this again, though. That much, I can promise you. Its not happening. Ever. So, Jess? You think you could work for me as, basically, a bodyguard with a cover of a student healer?"

Jess listened to them all and chuckled " yes I can" she said smiling now she could use her new found gift to its potential and looked at Jack who after kissing ehr smiled and spoke softly " you'll do fine "he said his arms wrapped around her ashe looked at Robert waiting to find out what the rest of them would do with them selves while jess was with Khaat but then he realized it was a daft question they would protect the girls and the rantch oviosly.

Cassidy watched and listened she saw the look on Jess's face as Robert made his sujestion , standing she moved to the kitchen and began to make preperations for supper's meal. she turned on the radio and started to hum with the music she heard.

Khaat woke and decided that, although she was weak, she was not going to remain in bed. The last she remembered was burke getting ahold of her again. She wasn't sure if she accurately remembered her father being there or not, but she didn't find any sign of the sectumsempra anymore. It had to be her father's work. She felt okay, but she was weak. Tired. In pain. And beyond all else, she was sick of Burke making her life a living hell.

She got up, and found her handpainted silk gown and the matching robe. It sure knocked the hell out of her day. She had merely wanted to go to a traditional, fiancial meeting of the hospital trustees. She remembered the looks on their faces as she walked in to find them chained in their chairs, mute and helpless to warn or help her, watching helplessly as she dueled for her life--and lost.

And she didnt like losing. Not where Burke was concerned. She found her walking stick useful now, in part to help her to stay upright. She walked downstairs and overheard her father talking to the others about making plans to secure her safety. She and her father had often talked about what a gap that was and how vulnerable it made her there with no security. She could be walked in on at any time at all. Attacked at random.

"That won't be necessary," she said softly. Her father frowned deeply. He got up and went over to her and supported her.

"Come sit," he said. "Then we'll talk. We've discussed this before. You are not going to walk back in there without protection. I forbid it."

"Its my hospital," she said, as he lowered her into a chair.

"I don't care what position you hold. You're still my daughter. And that outranks everything else, even if I weren't the minister. Protection. And that's final. You want to know how we're going to try this, or not?"

"Not," Brian said quickly. "Just do it, Robert. She doesn't need to be bothered with the details. We need for her to just do her job normally and let us do the rest."

Jess sat listening her head going from one to the other and back she would folow Roberts orders what ever they are to the letter. she sat quiet in jacks arms smiling to see Khaat up on her feet be it stiffly and shakily.

Cassidy started to cook a pot roast, Preheating the oven and heated some olive oil in heavy pan over medium high heat. Turning to the roast she sprinkled it with paprika and browned for about 15 minutes total. she then Place it in large oven proof casserole dish with a lid and add bell peppers, onions, carrot, and garlic. In the same skillet used to brown roast she add wine or beef stock, tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and salt. Gently she scraped the bottom to loosen any brown bits then add pepper and marjoram. Pouring over the meat and vegetables she covered and slid it in the over to Bake. After an hour she tested the pot roast to see if it was tender it was. She removed the meat and cover it with foil to keep warm. she took the vegetables from the pan with a slotted spoon and puree in a food processor then Placed in a saucepan and add the meat juices and drippings left in the pan. she cooked it over medium heat until thickened then added salt until the flavor came alive in her mouth just as Angus had showed her with the fruit.

Brian watched the banter continue to go back and forth between Khaat and Robert, arguing about her lack of freedom if she were surrounded by guards. Something just wasn't adding up right with him. He got up and went over to her. "We need to talk," he said to her quietly. She looked up in his face. He seemed to know. Well, part of it anyway. "We'll be right back," he told the others. He took her hand and apparated her to his office and sat with her on the sofa.

"Talk to me," he said softly.

"It is not your war," she said.

"Lie!" he nearly shouted. "It has been my war long before it was yours! It has been mine since I went to work for the organization--long before you were part of it. And if that isn't good enough, what about this?" he took a tight hold of her left hand and showed her the rings he had placed on her finger. She sighed heavily. "Now, what are you planning?"

"I'm going to Paris," she said.

"You can't possibly survive this without backup."

"All i want is to take him out."

"I know. I want him out too, but I want you to survive taking him out. You go ahead. Take him out. You deserve that. But you need backup. People who are dedicated to you, who will have your back. You take us along this time."

"I want Gelding too," she said.

"You and me both, my darling. You and me both. And your father. That is a very long list. One at a time. Lets start with Burke."

"I..." she began softly.

"Baby, I'd rather die with you than to live without you," he said, kissing her forehead. "We go together." She couldn't really says she disagreed. When push came to shove, she felt the same way about him. And it clarified for her how Remus had felt when he had been willing to die with Tonks than to be without her.

"Alright," she sighed. "Come with me then."

"I plan to. But we'll need help. Shall we tell them?"

"They all have families, children...."

"So do we. They deserve the chance to make their own decisions, honey. Lets talk with them." Reluctantly she agreed with him. He apparated her back down to the living room and back to her chair.

"Change of plans," Brian said. "Khaat and I are going to Paris. Soon. We're taking out Luther Burke. He does not deserve to live another day. Any of you want to back us up?"

Jess looked at them and stood up " what about this if steven jack and I came with you gladly but Cassidy and Angus stay here , cassidy is inexperianced and Angus is still energy depleted , it will give him time to recover " she said facing Robert " Jack mother will take care of our children Cassidy could take care of abbey and Dakota " she looked at him and awited she knew the final decishion would rest with him in the end .

Cassidy walked in her hands wrapped in a tea twoel as she dried them after she'd washed them after prepering the pot roast she wondered what was going on as much as she wanted to fight Burke for what he ahd done to her she knew jess was right even with the training she'd had she was still inexperianced in dueling and could get some one or even her self killed.

"On one condition," Robert said.

"What's that?" Brian asked.

"You turn over command of this mission to me," Robert insisted.

"Done," Brian said.

"Alright, then. Jess, you and Jack make the arrangements to go along. Steven, you choose. You have a pregnant fiancee. You dont' have to do this. We could use you, but don't do something you're not comfortable with," Robert said.

"Burke is mine," Khaat said firmly.

"Yes," Robert said quietly. "He is. You want to take him out, we'll give you the opening to do it. I'll make the plan, and we'll go as soon as its in place."

"And if you can't protect everyone?"

"You let me worry about that. Cassidy, Angus--you guard those children with your life. I'll give you instructions on what to do if we dont' come back," Robert said very seriously. "You follow them to the letter. You got that?" Brian scowled. Having Robert say they might not come back was a lot like the stewardess on a muggle plane giving instructions for a water landing for a flight over the desert. More than a little unlikely, as far as Brian was concerned.

Jack and jess sent an owl to Jacks mother asking her to take care of the children till they returned they added a note to say what to do if they didn't return and looked at heach other knowing they would try and come back , jack kissed her gently and she returned it " we will come back " he said softly and saw her nod " yes , we will" she replied her hand cressing his cheek .

Cassidy looked at Angus and nodded " yes sir, I will " she said listening to his orders she had grown to understand that his word was final and agung was of no use. Standing there she smelt the roast knowing she had extra responcibility she quickly checked it basting it again. Moving back out she stayed stood in one spot watching thinming this could be the last time she saw any of them she pushed that thought to the back of her mind . It was a mission one they would come back from.

Robert sent Archangel to Kate, and she came automatically. "You aren't an operative," Robert frowned.

"I am now," Kate said. "I've earned that right. I've saved your ass more than once. If this involves my daughter, I'm going."

"This isn't going to be pretty," Robert said.

"Are they ever? The roast smells delicious. When do we eat?" Kate asked. "I say we eat and plan."

"I'll do the planning, thank you," Robert said.

"And then I'll fix it," Kate said. Robert just sighed, shaking his head. When it came to her family, Kate was unshakable.

"Dinner does smell wonderful," Robert told Cassidy. "And I am getting hungry too. I suggest we all fuel up while we can."

"I'll help you in the kitchen," Kate told Cassidy.

Cassidy noticed when Kate aperated in first talking to Robert then noticing the smell of the she smiled and nodded " that would be great kate" she said glad of the extra pair of hands " I still have desert to make up and im not sure what it could be , im all tapped out " she said she hd to admit she had not thought much about desert what with al the action and excitment going around the ranch " I have th horse to feed and the girls dinners to do though i can give them the same as us but mashed and shredded into little peices" her mind working amile aminet . she moved to the sink and stopped she was not going to let her fear control her any more , porring some water into a glass she drank it down and sighed.