Marriage is Murder

"This doesn't work that way," Kate said. "Not from what Robert said. This isn't due to some sort of trauma that he knows of. He said this is a physical injury. He said she has such a severe head injury it should have killed her. Steven should have some idea what that's like. As I recall, he came here because he was injured and didn't have his memory for months. Robert believes she will get her memory back as her head heals. I know we'd all like to have her back to her old self by Christmas but I just dont' think anyone knows if that's going to happen or not. I do know she doesn't want to be like this. But I am very proud of Brian for staying so close to her. She is starting to trust him, I think. And she wants to trust Michael. She's tolerating Robert, but the rest of us are strangers to her."

Upstairs, Brian saw that Khaat's thoughts seemed to be getting darker and darker. He could feel it. He could sense it. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Is it all getting to you a bit?" he asked. She didn't want to respond. "Its okay. Just tell me the truth," he said. She slowly nodded. "You wanna get out of here for a bit?" he asked with a boyish grin. She frowned, not understanding. "I'm serious," he said. "If you're up to it, we can slip away for a bit. Just the two of us."

"Already did it," Kate told Jess. "You haven't had a chance to be there much, so I did it. I actually needed to keep myself busy while Khaat was mising. Its been selling well. All but the wool sweaters. The wool isn't, apparently, as attractive as the muggle synthetics and the cashmere. Can't hardly keep the cashmere in stock. We might do well to buy more cashmere and then run a sale on sweaters over all and unload the wool in the process with some deeper discounts on the wool."

Brian helped Khaat dress and found she wasnt' good at standing without him totally supporting her. But, he wanted her to have something to hang onto, something to believe in. And she wasn't heavy. He didn't mind supporting her. He put the keyring of portkeys in his pocket and then stood her to her feet and wrapped her close. "Hold tight," he said softly. "Its liable to make you dizzy." He ported out with her.

Downstairs, Kate felt the energy shift. They'd gone out. That didn't entirely surprise her. Nor did it distress her.

It was after lunch when Robert finally surfaced. He was showered, shaved, changed, and looking more human again. He accio'd a cup of tea for himself from the kitchen.

"Kate?" he asked, "Where the devil did my bag go?"

"Your bag? I didn't do anything with your bag," she said. "Perhaps Brian took it when he went out with Khaat."

"They went out? Good. Smart lad. He probably did take it, then," Robert said. "If he took her out, he would surely have needed it Did he say when he was coming back?"

"Didn't even say he was going," Kate shrugged. "I just knew."

"Well, thats even better, then. Let's move on with our day, then," Robert said. "I've been giving some thought as to whether I want the straggling members of the werewolf pack to be dealt with or whether I want to let them go for a bit. We've cut their numbers significantly. It surely has hurt them. I can't say that I would not get some satisfaction out of sending some of them through the veil in the death chamber myself, in all honesty."

"Let them go if they're quiet, Robert," Kate said. "There's been enough killing for now."

"I don't want to give them time to reassemble," he said.

"Leave them be," she repeated strongly. "Concentrate on your two jobs and your daughter's two jobs that, right now, she cannot do. Four jobs ought to be plenty for any one person to wrestle."

"Six," Robert corrected. "I have to do something with Sparks to rebuild. I made a commitment to that. And, I do have the organization to run--on top of my two jobs and Khaat's two."

"Then you surely ought to be able to find something to do," Kate scowled. "I suggest you get at it."

"Go away, Kate," he groaned. "Let me have an afternoon, for God's sake. I'll go tomorrow." He yawned, picking up his jacket, and going outside. Kate smiled slightly.

"His fatigue is getting to him," she said. "I warned him and he wouldn't listen. He'll drag for a day or so now. He's hoping that the cold will make him feel more alert. Watch this." She flicked her wand and apparated Brian's office furniture out into the yard almost right in front of Robert. He whirled around to face the house.

"Very funny, Katherine!" he shouted. He sat down at the desk and simply propped his feet up on the desk, watching the snow fall on the desk and on his jacket.

"Is he going to stay out there?" Angus frowned.

"Probably. If for no other reason than to make a point," she laughed. "He'll come back in when the cold starts to get to him."

"Of course it will," Robert said casually. "Its entirely Kate's fault, you know. I'd have left the damned thing inside. But, I'll play along." As he spoke, Kate apparated out all the necessary desk accessories and his paperwork. "If you're going to put me out here, at least provide me some heat!" he shouted back.

She responded by setting the desk on fire. He leaped to his feet and quickly put it out. "Katherine Elizabeth!" he bellowed. "That is an antique! And its not ours to burn, thank you very much!" He flicked his wand at the desk and repaired it. He looked up at Jack. "The woman needs a day away. I can't do it the same day Khaat and Brian are gone, but I should take her on a day trip someplace, I suppose. Before she burns the bloody house down. She's just trying to get a rise out of me, and I don't give in to that. She knows it too, so she'll just keep uping the ante on it if I don't do something out of the box to counter her. I think a day trip will work. Perhaps a surprise daytrip. Although, its damned hard to surprise a seer with much of anything."