Marriage is Murder

"Yes," Brian said. "She's still unconscious, but perhaps thats a good thing right now. There's no more bleeding. No serious fractures. I don't know how she escaped all that, but she's going to be fine. She'll be resuming control of his life in a day or two, I expect. As I recall, Kate is not always the best patient for him. She tends to do whatever she bloody well pleases. I expect that to happen long before he's ready for that."

Downstairs, Robert finished bandaging Khaat and setting spells in place. He had taped bandages completely down the left side of her face. "How's the pain?" he asked.

"Was I bitten?" she asked.

"No. Answer my question."

"I'll survive," she said.

"No thanks to yourself. What the hell were you doing? What part of stay with Edward did you not understand?"

"I found the beast. I wanted it gone."

"And so do we all! But taking him on by yourself was not your job!"

"You needed me...."

"I needed the stone. "

"We do come as a set!" she was loud and angry now.

Upstairs, Brian heard Khaat's angry voice clearly.

"What's Robert doing to her now?" Kate managed very softly and faintly. "He's a it sometimes."

"You know how well they get along," Brian laughed, adding more pain relief to her. "Its just business as usual, Kate."

Steven smiled hearing Brian's words and more so when Kate spoke even softly " I'l let them know " he said and looked at Kate " good to see you awake and alive Kate" he said and gently touched her hand with his own before he turned and left the room to head down " Kate's going to be fine she was asking what the noise was coming from down here " he said smiling as he took up his tea and wrapped an arm around Cassidy and puled her close to him. " I see Khaats getting better too" he said I think were al glad that both are okay" he said Jim nodded as did Brant who finished his tea and headed to the kitchen to let Angus know what as the outcome.

" hey cousin you hiding in here? there both going to be okay." he said placing the cups in the washer

"No," Angus said, "Not hiding. Someone has to think about the dozen litle people who are going to want lunch. All of this before lunch time. I can hardly wait to see what the afternoon brings." He ladled homemade chicken noodle soup into a large tureen. He summoned a basket and charmed a knife to cut a loaf of bread into thick slices and deposit the slices into the basket. He got a salad out from the refrigerator and a caraffe of homemade dressing.

"Make yourself useful and set out an assortment of the sodas in the other fridge, would you?" Angus said to Brant. "And then lets get those little ones fed, even if the adults aren't in the mood. Damn. Forgot to set the table."

"Tell Robert to leave her be," Kate said, getting sleepy. "He'd have done the same damned thing, and he knows it...." She fell uncontrollably asleep.

"I'll tell him," Brian said softly, pulling the blankets closer around her. He set spells in place to clean up the mess. He double checked again to make sure that she was stable. Archangel glided in and perched on the footboard of the bed. "Stay with her, Archangel. Come at once if she needs us, won't you?" The bird seemed to understand and began to stare at Kate, not blinking, already on guard duty.

Downstairs, Khaat and Robert were continuing to argue bitterly about the appropriateness of her going after the beast.

"You'll get used to that," Angus told Brant. "They're too alike for their own good."

Brant chuckled and nodded " glad some one remembered my stomach feels like a mummy's tomb " he said and smiled as he took out several sodas and made them float to the table " I'll get it cousin" he said and everything set down on the table in place " can't tell you how often I've done that before" he looked over at Robert and Khaat again smiling " guess so nobody can say those two aren't father and daughter " he looked at Steven and Jim both watching Khaat and Robert Cassidy stood up and walked over to him.

" as Angus said you get use to it its not all like this" she said as James ran to her arms and she picked him up smiling" sometimes we act like a family too" Brant smiled at James who pointed to the two mice sat behind him he picked them both up and placed them in his pocket.

Brian came downstairs and saw the fight continuing.

"You both somehow managed to irk Kate right out of unconsciousness. Bloody rude of you both," Brian said.

"She's awake?" Robert turned abruptly.

"She was. She's asleep," Brian said.

"Then I'll go up. Do try to keep your wife from further stupidity," Robert said, getting up and going upstairs. Khaat glared at Brian.

"Don't look at me," Brian smiled. "I had no intention of picking up where he left off. I'd have gone after that monster too. I was going to tell you I thought it was a good try. If the cave in didn't get him, then he surely has to be hurting. It might buy us some time."

Angus set lunch on the table. "Is she up to eating?" Angus asked.

"Doesn't matter," Brian said. "I want her to try at least."

"I don't get a vote?" Khaat asked.

"Do you need one? Its just lunch, not an election." He touched her forehead and added to Robert's pain spell. "We're going to have to stay ahead of it, aren't we? This one is going to hurt."

"I'll live," she said. "Go get the kids. I'm sure they're hungry."

"We have nannies today. They surely can bring them down," Brian said.

Brant watched as every one switched he looked at Cassidy and she shrugged " James is good at getting out of places including the nursery and his cot" she said and he just chuckled looking at James now sleepy on her shoulder as she stood watching and sighed . " Angus do they always do this " he asked he held up his hand to Cassidy " I know you already said they don't but it just feels to me they do, okay that soup smells wonderful" he said and pored out a bowl and took it to Khaat and Brian " here this should help always does with me" he said and smiled placing it on a table next to them both before moving to the table with Steven and Jim and sat down.

"Its just an ongoing parent and child squabble," Angus said. "They get along most of the time, but when they squabble, they just pick up where they left off the last time."

"Thank you," Brian said to Brant as he brought over a couple bowls of soup. Brian knew that she would need help with her soup. She ate part of a bowl as the nannies brought down the kids. Michael fixed a tray for Kate and Robert and sent it upstairs in case Robert could get Kate to eat or in case he would relent and eat.

"I want to go find him," Khaat told Brian quietly.

"Who?" Brian asked.

"That damned beast. It doesn't feel like he's gone," she said.

"You're full of all sorts of spells. That does not help your judgement," he said. "And the only thing about you that is battle ready is that damned stone that keeps tossing you back into this mess." He paused, knowing how desperate she was to want that monster out of her life.

"He's vulnerable now. We can't give him time to recover."

"You're right, of course," Edward said to her from his place at the dining table. "But I am afraid that you are simply not combat fit. You will have to sit this dance out, my dear."

"Like hell, I will," she said fiercely. Angus looked up, not accustomed to hearing that depth of rage from her. Edward, on the other hand, paused and then smiled slightly.

"Ah,and now you sound like your father and your uncle both," he said. "You do get it honestly, don't you?"

Cassidy sat watching as she ate her soup gently feeding James who rested his head on her shoulder. Jess woke and walked down to the table " ah sup nice" she said and fetched herself a bowl and sat down to eat giving a deep yawn as she sat and listened Cassidy smiled.

" you should have staid upstairs" she said as Jess chuckled .

" what and miss all this no plenty of time to sleep later." she said as she took a spoon of soup " Angus this is good soup" she smiled and continued to eat.

When lunch was finished, the nannies took the kids upstairs for afternoon naps.

"So we're back to business as usual, then?" Michael asked as they finished up and he set spells into place for the cleaning up.

"No," Khaat said. "We're getting that thing. Today."

"You either have selective hearing, or you hit your head," Edward said. "Because you're not hearing me."

"I heard you perfectly," she said. "But you need a seer to track where the tunnel goes now. A seer who can track werewolves."

"And you think you're the only one who can do that?" He laughed boldly. He was, after all, both, and had made his living doing exactly that. "Your father brought me here because I'm better than all of you. Now--you're sitting this out."

"Are you always so modest?" she scowled.

"Yes," was his simple reply, unphased by her mood. "Do try to keep her from damaging the other shoulder, would you, Brian? Indoors would be best for now."

"I'll do my best," Brian laughed, glad she still had spirit left to fight with.

Brant listened and looked at Khaat " he's the best at what he does Khaat don't worry it will be dealt with " he said and looked to Angus then Edward " are we going back out to kill it" he asked hoping they could finish it once and for all for Khaat to relax and recover. He placed down the two mice and told them to stay out of sight til he came back then checking his herbs and potions he knew he was ready. Steven and Jim looked at Robert then Edward both waiting for his word to leave and finish it.

"That spell you cast should make sure if it leaves its dead right" Steven said " he cast and old spell that if it or anything comes out with out our permission its dead as soon as it leaves the cave" Steven said to Khaat.