Marriage is Murder

"I figured you two would cover that sooner or later," Kate told Jack. "It would be hard to discuss combat with him if he hadn't at least admitted his own shortcomings in that. If you use a spare room, though, you'll be bunking with some of the others who have come in to help. We dont have much of a choice tonight--unless we put extra beds up in your houses on the grounds. Its just going to be very crowded for one night."

"Shes awake," Khaat said, even though her eyes were closed. "I'm just listening...and watching."

"Are you spying on the werewolves, my dear?" Michael asked, laughing.

"Either that or the pain potions have made me delusional," she said.

"Not likely," her father said. "Sometimes they do loosen the inhibitions so you can see clearer though."

"Then I ought to be a top notch seer in no time," she yawned.

"Thank you," Robert said, pocketting the bottle from Brant. "I'm sure she'll have more than enough coverage for her protection. As for me, I'm not the one who was unhappy with you. That was your uncle if I recall. I decided to stay out of that one. I think we're covered there now, though."

Jack chuckled and looked at Jess. “ um think I'd prefer that to being castrated the hard way” he said Jess just nodded as she walked past. “ guess I'll have to start over with Jess, after the fights done” he said “ we got that to finish, and Kate it will be finished” he opened the door to find several bunks in the room and laughed. “ well this takes me back, reminds me of my school days, though I usually got the single bed.” he said and moved to a bottom bunk each man watching as he moved to lay down on the bed as Jess passed back towards the nursery. He glanced up as she passed her eyes catching his but he could still see the fire in them and he sighed. Steven chuckled and looked to Khaat as she spoke.

“ Sorry Khaat didn't see you were awake” he said and listened to the others talking to her he could not agree more with Michael and Robert. He knew Jack was back and looked at Robert “ so is he ready for action?” he asked “ I mean really ready , hes not going to put our lives and that of Khaat again in jeopardy?” he ran his fingers threw his hair as he spoke.

"Dunno," Robert answered Steven. "He says he's ready. No one truly knows that until they're into the thick of it. But at this point, he's more likely an advantage to us. So I'm going to let him fight."

"You do realize that your sarcasm, Khaat, is more than likely part of the potions, right?" her father asked, unphased.

"And I thought it was because I was hurting and just generally moody," she replied.

"That too," he couldn't help a slight amused smile. "She's starting to take after you, Michael."

"You aren't minus your own sarcasm from time to time, Robert," Michael replied. "I prefer to think thats just genetics."

"Are you lot tired of putting up with me?" she yawned.

"No. Not at all," Michael laughed. "But I wish you could tell me how they're getting in when they come."

"Not sure exactly," she said, "but they will come. And they will penetrate our protection nets. They have it worked out somehow. Its all set."

"And when are they coming? Do you know?" her father asked.

"Before dawn," she said. "They've miscalculated. They think we won't be up then. They dont know we're always all up before dawn." Robert laughed, amused.

"Excellent," he said. "We will be on our own schedule, on our own home turf, well rested and fed. I'd say we have the advantage for now. I wish you could send them false information."

"And what would you like me to suggest to them?" she asked.

"That we get up, oh, perhaps by 8 or 9 when we're not working," he laughed.

"I can try," she offered.

"What are we out?" Michael asked.

"No clue whatsoever," Robert replied.

Steven sat and listened when she spoke of before dawn he chuckled as Robert retorted they were always up before dawn. Jack had laid on the bed for so long he finally fell asleep listening to the sounds of life around him he took a deep breath in and could smell the wears out on the grounds. He moved his arms behind his head as he looked up at the bunk above him and heard the man snoring above him. Steven glanced at the clock and grunted.

“ okay we should at least get some rest “ he suggested “ do you want a hand with Khaat or are we leaving her to sleep here tonight?” he asked seeing how she'd fallen asleep again. Brant watched and looked at them talking before he moved to the kitchen again hoping Angus hand something he could do.

“ hey cousin, anything you need me to do?” he asked sitting part way on the table top as he waited for Angus to tell him, “ Jacks back “ he said calmly as if he came back every day.

"You lot going to bed before dinner tonight?" Robert frowned. "You go to bed now and you'll be awake by midnight. Your choice, though."

"It doesnt' matter where Khaat sleeps as long as she's comfortable," Brian said. "But she might have less muscle pain if she can rest her shoulder by not having that arm dangling and pulling on that shoulder."

"Indeed," Robert said. "I'd prefer she could truly rest awhile. I'd rather she get into her own bed for awhile."

Khaat wasnt' sure she could send any sort of images to them and not get caught. Not unless it was through a teenaged seer who thought he was more skilled than he actually was. It was who she felt she was getting her information from. He had been attempting to read her but he'd been giving more away than he was getting from her. It amused her.

Steven chuckled “ hey food forgot about that” he said and shook his head “ on second thoughts I'll stay up for now , if you want I could carry her up to her room.”he offered. Jim looked up from his book and lit his pipe having the feel for need for a smoke of it.

“ so what's the word?” he asked looking over the top of the book as Robert said they would attack early morning. “ hum, so they think us stupid, not to be ready for them.” he said softly and closed the book placing it down on the table next to him once more. “ hum talking of food I don't smell anything coking from the kitchen” he said as Steven chuckled this time.

“ Its a wonder you can smell anything over that tobacco Jim” he said and Jim smiled.

“ ah my stress relief works every time” he said smiling widely at Steven.

"Thank you, Steven," Robert said. "But I'd like her to try to eat first. And then, I think, Brian is right. I think we need to move her to bed after dinner. She's done, actually, amazingly well, all things considered. But for as seriously as she was wounded, I am surprised she was up at all, much less all day. She's a stubborn woman."

"She gets that from you," Brian said.

"Oh sure," Robert said. "Blame the dad. And Angus is cooking. I agree its your pipe dullling your nose."

Steven nodded and chuckled at Robert telling Jim it was his tobacco that stifled his sense of smell. Jim just huffed and puffed his pipe once again. Brant coughed as he sat closest to him but Jim just smiled.

" hey put that out I want my lungs smoke free till I die" he said waving the smoke out of his face. Standing he moved away and sat near an open window. Steven chuckled that agreed with Robert.

" I smell wonderful food cooking" he said and nodded to Robert " I agree but some amount of stubbornness is aloud, don't you think Robert." he said and chuckled once again.

"If you want to be smoke free, you are truly in the wrong crowd," Robert said. "Most of us smoke at some point or another, Brant. The chance that you will stop us is virtually nil. I suggest you learn to stand downwind if you dont want to smell it. Jim's an addict to that pipe. The rest of us do it because we either like it or we use it for stress relief. Its not the healthiest habit, but, well, we all have a vice somehow or another."

"As I said," Brian said, "Lupin genetics include stubbornness."

"Truth be told," Robert said. "She gets it evenly from both sides. Her mother can be at least as stubborn as I can. Usually moreso."

Fi came out from the kitchen and started setting the table. "Make yourselves useful and go get the kids and then alert Lee's men and the men from the organization. The sideboard will be up and ready in a moment for dinner. People will have to take their plates to wherever they can find."

Steven chuckled as he stood and looked at Robert " now that's something I can't disagree with " he said and turned to Fiona " okay I will eat on my knee right here." he said Just as Jess and Cassidy brought all the children down all holding hands and gigging as they went to their chairs each being lifted by ether Steven or a member of lees group into them. Jack woke with a start and hit his head on the top bunk.

"Hey watch it, I'd like to sleep in this night" he said rolling to look over the bunks edge" ow sorry" he said and rolled back. Jack smelt food and sat up rubbing the bump on his head as he with a deep sigh in his loose trousers and shirt but bare feet walked down to the dinning room. walking in he saw it was full already and he moved to stand by a dresser. Jess saw Jack and walked over with a plate , placing her hand on his head she took down the swelling she found there and nodded.

" eat now talk later" she told him and moved to give Robert, Khaat and Brain there food.