Marriage is Murder

Jack growled " doesn't make it right that she went to him and not to Brian " he said looking down at Kate as he spoke to her " so because he was the first to find her, she has to find him like a security blanket?" he asked Kate trying to understand what was going on with Khaat. Cassidy went back to her chess game with Jim again. Jim looked up and shook his head at Jacks questions.

" Jack give her time " he said " its still early days yet" he added and made his first move on the board cassidy soon after as Jess moved to take Jack to sit down so he could calm down too.

Khaat had heard Jack. His remarks were cruel and they hurt. And she didn't like anyone who growled like an animal. Humans didn't do that. The fact that he did made her uncomfortable. She wanted to be gone from the lot of them. She didn't know if she knew how to leave here, but now she felt like a prisoner, being kept in the company of people who didn't have a bloody clue about what she was dealing with.

She glared hard at Brian. She regretted him even bringing her here. She had been happier alone with him in Venice. She went upstairs to her room and shut the door. Brian glared hard at Jack.

"Do try to act bit more human, would you?" he sighed. "At least until she figures out that she doesn't have to worry about you going all furry and eating her and the kids the next time you get pissed off. Jim's right. You're expecting a hell of a lot of her straight off. Try to see it from her side, and it might look different to you." He needed to cool off and he knew it. Khaat needed some space. Brian excused himself and left.

Steven sighed and looked at Jack " go , gym, now" he said and pointed as Jack stood up and moved down to the gym " sorry Khaat he can be difficult but he doesn't speak for us all " he said " take as much time as you need " he said moving to help Cassidy with her game Jess smiled and nodded she agreed with Steven. Jim looked as Jack walked down to the gym and looked to Kate.

" is there anything we can give that boy to keep him calm, I'm mean apart from a sledge hammer to the head?" he asked Kate

"Jack is not my department," Kate said. "I presume Steven and Jess can take care of that. They've both been in Khaat's shoes to one extent or another. Jack hasn't been so he doesn't know what its like to not have any identity at all. And he hasn't had that experience with a father like Robert who can be rather demanding at times. For now, I would suggest we simply keep Jack and Khaat apart. It seems to be healthier for both of them."

Brian had been going to go blow off steam and decided against it. Instead he went up to the bedroom to talk to Khaat, to try to help her feel more at home. She told Brian in no uncertain terms that she wanted to go back to Italy. And the sooner the better. He could see she was not going to be easily talked into staying.

Jess sighed and nodded " ow I'll deal with him don't worry " Jess told her her own annoyance coming out " I agree he needs to learn its not easy not remembering things its damn well hard " Jess said and saw Steven nod heading sown to the gym to talk to Jack. Cassidy looked at them all and sighed deeply.

"great this is turning out a disaster I'm sure shes already asking to leave here and get away from us" she said looking at Kate worried that she was going to never return.

"Of course she is," Kate said. "I can't say I'd feel a bit different if I were in her shoes. She came from being totally alone with Brian, not having to leave her hotel suite if she didn't want to. Now she's being judged by the people Brian told her she'd be safe with."

"So what do you plan to do?" Angus asked.

"Nothing," Kate said.

"Nothing?"

"Thats right. She didn't marry me. She married Brian. He's her chief of security. He'll make the best choice. I presume what he will do is try to get her to excuse everyone's behavior and get her to have a bit more paitence with them and herself. And Brian also knows full well that if he takes her off by herself again, then, he's risking making her more available to Gelding and the werewolves both. He won't make that choice quickly."

Steven looked at Kate and raised an eye brow " why nothing?" he asked softly he was curios as she continued he sat back in his chair listening to them both talking he could understand Kate's thoughts " I hope she doesn't and that she stays here" he said softly as he refilled and drank his coffee. Jess looked to Kate and sighed worried she didn't think Khaat was ready to leave but she knew Brian was more than capable to look after her and they all could not stop her if she wanted to leave and be alone with him once again.

"If I did do anything, though, I would suggest that one of you--either Jess or Steven--talk to Jack and tell him to stop acting like such an ass," Kate said. "He has no right to be jealous of any conversation she does or does not have with Emilio Escobar. The only one that has any right to be jealous of that is Brian, and clearly he chooses not to be jealous because he doesn't consider Escobar to be a threat to his relationship with Khaat.

"Kate," Robert said, passing through with his tea mug,"ease up. Jack just simply doesn't have a clue. He's never had amnesia so he doesn't know what its like to lose your entire identity and everything you've ever known. If he continues acting like he does, I think I could arrange a short term experience of it for him, though I don't think I would try it with someone with his tendencies for violence unless he were in a bit more of a controlled environment." Robert knew that to disorient someone with lycanthropy was risky ground. He knew that if Jack understood a bit more, even if he experienced amnesia for a few minutes, he would have more of an idea about perhaps what it must be like to lose oneself indefinitely.

Steven nodded and looked to Jess who nodded and he stood up " I'll go talk to him" he said and moved to the entrance of the stairs to the gym Jess sighed deeply and brushed her hair from her face.

"If he continues to act an ass I'll personally make him forget who he is" she said remembering the struggle she had regaining her memories and hiding all the dark ones that was to her downfall and she had to stay with Jeffery, she felt a hand on hers and looked to see Cassidy smiling at her.

" I don't know what its like ether but I can imagine its hard " she said smiling at both of them.

It took Brian quite awhile--a couple of hours, but he did finally feel better enough about things to come down from his room.

Kate was in the great hall, working on a sketch, when Brian came in. He headed for the kettle of cider that was hanging over the fireplace. He filled two mugs and sent one of them up to Khaat.

"So? How are things?" Kate asked him gently. "Can I help?"

"No," Brian said. "thank you. She's better, at least for now. I can't promise she isn't going to be a bit angry for awhile, but she's not quite as angry as she was."

"Let me guess. Part of it is her father."

"Of course it is," Brian said. "I have part of that de-escalated. I've promised to not let Robert toss her to the dogs."

"He wasn't going to do that anyway."

"No, but she believed it was her responsibility to train herself."

"How can she train herself about something she knows nothing about?" Kate frowned.

"And that was her frustration. She had every old outdated Hogwarts textbook the library here had. She was going out and trying to force herself to relearn it all by herself.,"

"That can be dangerous."

"It sounds like Escobar intervened to keep her safe, and for that, regardless of his motives, I am grateful. For now, she's agreed to try to stay, so long as Robert leaves the training to me."

"Sounds more than fair to me," Kate said. "You sure she's alright?"

"For now. Still reading an outdated book on basic spells and trying to memorize every photo she has access to--to try to help herself remember, but I can't talk her out of everything."

"She's going to drive herself buggy like that," Kate sighed. "She needs some fun."

"Fun?" Brian said, the thought not entering his mind before now.