Marriage is Murder

Jack breathed out when they arrived taking his coat off and hanging it up " ow just come coffee will do please, thanks Hanna" he said with a smile as he moved to a chair to sit while he waited and watched Khaat do her work his senses on high alert for anything out of the order. Jess back in the main house had got up and moved to the nursery feeling James throwing a temper tantrum over a toy he wanted. Jess picked him up and quietened him down placing the toy on a shelf until he calmed down enough she would give it to him, returning she smiled seeing Cassidy with four pieces left on the board and Jim had six.

It seemed like an ungodly long work day for Khaat, and she wasn't sure why. It got busy very quickly, and she spent most of the day being summoned from one thing to another. It didn't take her long to feel just drained, and her head pounded.

She finally sat down at the nurses station in the psych wing, listening to some of the more ill patients scream, and she sighed heavily.

"What are you doing here?" her father's voice sounded behind her. She jumped.

"Where did you come from?" she frowned.

"Where were you at lunch?" he asked.

"Lunch?"

"Lunch. Food between breakfast and dinner. We were scheduled for a working lunch some of the staff."

"Damn," she sighed. "What time is it?"

"After three. Did you even give yourself or Jack time to sit at all today?"

"Jack?" she asked.

"You didn't even notice he's been within eyesight all day, did you?"

"Um....no. Sorry, Jack."

"In a way, its a compliment. He's supposed to keep up with you, not the other way 'round. You're not supposed to notice he's there unless you really need him." He laid his hand on her head. "And that headache probably caused you not to notice him unless he had to drag you out from under a bus. That pain is coming from your neck. Jack, she's done here today. Take her home." He wrote a note on a scratch pad. "Give that to Hannah. She'll give you a dose of stronger pain potion to take home with you. If she takes it now, you'll have to carry her home. But if she takes it soon, she might be awake again by dinner time tonight."

"Don't I get a vote here?" Khaat asked.

"No," her father said. "I'll be there by six or so. You're done. Go."

Jack stood in the door to the room his arms were crossed over his chest as he watched Khaat he could tel he was physically drained he watched as Robert appeared and spoke to her his head looking up as his name was mentioned " not a problem Khaat " he said and smiled , Jack heard Robert and stepped forward " I'll fetch that then take her home " he took the note and quickly headed to find Hanna finding her he smiled .

" this is from Robert " he said waiting as she left returning with a bottle he tucked it into his shirt pocket and headed back " okay got it Khaat time to end the day" he said moving to her side as he looked at Robert " shall I tell Kate you'll be late?" he asked and tood waiting for his answer.

"Thank you," Robert said. "Kate knows that I don't get home until six on most of my days. Its probably more important that you either eat dinner without me if the kids are really hungry. Or tell Angus I'll be a bit later tonight. One or the other. He doesn't need to wait for me or hold food for me."

"If he doesn't, you'll be eating those greasy fish and chips before you come home," Khaat said. "And my mother will be ticky."

"Yes, very probably," he agreed. "But she'll just have to get over it--again. You see how concerned I'm not? Now, go home. Don't toss that potion out. Its incredibly expensive to make."

"I could use the regular potion, you know."

"If I thought you needed that, I'd have given you that. Go home and do as I tell you," he said. She sighed and looked at Jack.

"Let's go," she said, tired of arguing with him.

Jack chuckled and nodded as he placed his hand on her shoulder " yes he is" he said and aperated back to the main house . Appearing he staid beside Khaat hoping she could stand on her own after it. He was ready to catch her should it affect her since he could tell she was exhausted from working. Jess walked over and smiled .

"welcome home" she said " Jack don't worry Kate knows Robert will be late" she said as she handed Khaat a cup of tea and took the bottle from Jacks pocket and pored a dose " here take this the tea will take away the taste but if I'm right it should taste pleasant." she and smiled.

Khaat handed her coat to Jack. She was tired. Very tired. And she was definitely hurting. She knew this potion well. It was so concentrated and strong that it was going to act, for at least a couple of hours, like a sleeping potion.

"I'll take this upstairs with me," she said, knowing that it wasn't wise to drink this standing up. "I presume you'll tell Brian I'm home, then. Thank you for thinking of the tea. The last time I had this, it was like drinking rocket fuel. But we'll see if he's improved it since then." She headed upstairs.

She kicked off her shoes and stretched out on the bed. It did ease the pounding in her head just to be able to rest her neck a bit. She sniffed the tea. It smelled pleasant enough. She drank it, but it still tasted a lot like rocket fuel or very concentrated firewhiskey. It didnt' take her more than a few seconds after she finished her tea to fall victim to the potion and fall asleep.

Jess nodded her head and chuckled " yes it does and your welcome" she said as Jack hung his own and Khaat's Jacket up for her then moved to sit down resting his head against the back of the couch Steven looked at him .

" hard day? he asked Jack shook his head .

" nope just beat that's all" he said as Jess walked over and sat back down next to Jack Cassidy walked out with a tray just as Jess looked up and smiled " she's sleeping" Jess said poring out some cups of tea. Picking one up she walked over to Kate " here thought you could use this" she said .

"From what Robert has said, its not easy keeping up with her," Kate said. "Thank you, Jess, Fresh tea would be lovely."

"It isn't," Brian said, coming in. "So Robert had enough of letting her try to do this her way, I take it?"

"Sent her home with pain potion," Kate said. "She's resting. And that means...."

"He'll be late," Brian said, knowing.

"Indeed," Kate said. "If he didn't come home with her, he'll be late. You should see the seafood Angus and Michael have been preparing. Its a veritable feast. Its going to be wonderful. Jack, if you let him even think about going to that pub and getting those filthy greasy fish and chips...."

"You know thats exactly what he's planning, Kate," Brian laughed. "Would you like me to go fetch him?"

"Somebody needs to--closer to five. If we send Michael, he'll just go along with Robert. He'll be no help whatsoever."

Jack sat listening he chuckled as Brian said to Kate that Robert would get the fish and chips " he was talking about that with Khaat before we left " he said then looked at Kate " um I would but I like being me and would prefer not to be a bug" he said and chuckled " I'll go and fetch him " he said Jess raised an eye brow " don't look like that you know I'm eating healthy these days " he said and Jess chuckled.

" Angus's seafood sound and sells wonderful" Jess said trying to change the subject away from fish and chips and Roberts sneaking to eat them after work.

Brian suddenly had an idea. He accio'd a piece of paper and an envelope. He checked to be sure it was the right paper and then he folded it very carefully and put it in the envelope. "Here, Jack. All you need to do is deliver this. Then its 'game over' for the fish and chips."

"What on earth could you have found that has that much power?" Kate frowned.

"Oh, no," Brian grinned. "That would be telling. I think we should just let this one play out."

"This sounds like it will be interesting," she laughed.

"It should be, yes," Brian agreed. "Is Michael making some sort of dessert for tonight?"

"If he's not, then he's making chocolate covered fish," Kate laughed. "I definitely smelled chocolate earlier."