Marriage is Murder

"The beast is the least of my concerns now," Brian said, wanting to burn off his anger with some old fashioned hard work. "But nobody's touching my family--ever again."

"Brian," Owens said, carrying a pad of paper, "I'm working on making a list of what needs to be replaced."

"Just get it done," Brian said, trying hard not to be sharp with him. "My account. Pay it. Get it handled. Down to the last knick knack."

"Knick knacks?" Owens tried not to question him.

"I said replace it," Brian repeated. "Everything that was lost. Get it hand made if its not replaceable. Just get it done."

"Yes, Sir," Owens said.

"Where'd they come in at?" Brian asked.

"Basement," Owens said. "I've shut that area off. Looks like a portal of some sort."

"On my land? Not happening," Brian said, turning quickly and setting the shovel aside.

"Where are you going?" Owens asked.

"I'm going to get rid of it," Brian said.

"You know how to do that?"

"Not a blooming clue," Brian said. "I'll figure it out." He headed downstairs. Owens looked at Jim.

"Suppose somebody needs to go get Robert before that boy blows himself and us up?" Owens asked. "I...I can stall him, I think. I'm generally pretty good at looking confused if I have to. But that depends on how fast you might be."

Jim looked up when Owens mentioned a portal " how in hell did they make that" Jim said finishing up the kitchen and placing the last unbroken plate back in the cupboard. Steven continued to make the living room as good as new only glancing up for a moment but continued cleaning. Both en watched Brain head down and Jim moved quickly " I'll go" h said and ported to the main house. He walked around before he found Robert " okay mini crisis Brian is trying to close a portal the wears placed in Jacks basement , you better come quick before he does himself an injury , hes very hetup over the mess they left " he added then looked to Khaat " how is she today?" he asked as Jess walked in.

"You go Robert, I'll sit with her, I can feel his anger all the way here " she said softly and smiled.

(sorry that I missed you, I fell asleep on the couch only woke when I got your message, again Im sorry and here is the reply)

"Well, peachy," Robert sighed. "That boy is going to make me an old man."

"You want me to come with you?" Edward asked.

"No point in both of us being blow beyond the veil," Robert shook his head. "Stay here, Jim, and don't let anybody do anything else stupid for a couple minutes, would you?" he apparated over to Jack's house and then apparated again down to the basement. Brian was standing in front of a dark doorway, swirling with a dark sparkling spiral. He had his wand raised, ready to fire into it.

"Oh, go ahead. Blow us all up, then," Robert sighed. "You might have given us all a chance to say goodbye before you did it, though."

"Huh?" Brian looked back at Robert.

"You don't have a bloody clue what you're doing and you know it," Robert said, walking up to Brian. "Stand back, you twit. Before you get us all killed. You have to seal it before you can get rid of it. Ninny." Robert carefully wove a spell to seal the portal completely. When that was done, the doorway appeared to be nothing more than a bricked up wall.

"Now we can get rid of it," Robert said, casting another spell to rid them safely of the portal. He turned back to Brian and scowled sternly. "Don't ever do that again without talking to me first. Got that?"

Jim nodded and sat down watching Khaat as Robert left the room. Steven had moved downstairs and stood watching making sure Brian didn't try anything until Robert arrived . where on he stepped back and left Brian to him. He watch as Robert sealed the portal and then got rid of it. H e folded his arms as Brant appeared and watched Robert.

" wow that bad huh" he said softly and Steven looked at him and rolled his eyes.

" yes that bad, Robert doesn't joke about those things" he said and Brant sighed as he stood watching.

Robert looked over at Brian and swatted him in the back of the head. "I'm gonna hurt you," he hissed at him.

"Oh, you and what army?" Brian sighed.

"Don't challenge me on this. Do I need to send you to the gym?"

"You don't need to send me anywhere," Brian said angrily. "I'm going. I'll be back." He apparated out, and Robert sighed.

"He did not go to the gym. I don't know where he went, but I know it wasn't the gym," Robert said. "Let him go. He needs to de-stress. He's just had enough of fighting monsters and letting them onto his land. He'll be fine. Do you lot have this place in a state that will be acceptable to Jess? Jack won't notice as much as Jess is going to. We're not bringing her back here until it will pass her inspection."

Brant and Steven both nodded " yes but you know she'll pick up on things that are not right " he said softly and turned to Brant " come on kid, lets double check any way" he said and Brant gave him a look of 'don't call me kid' as he moved to follow Steven back upstairs but he paused and looked at Robert as he spoke.

" so, um..where did he go?" he asked running his hands threw his hair as he knew it might be the wrong question and time to ask, but Steven stopped and looked at Robert waiting for his reply.

"I'm not entirely sure," Robert said. "He's angry. He's really angry. I'll go back and check and see if Khaat or Kate can get a fix on him--at least to see if I need to go rescue either him or somebody else. I really would like to keep him out of trouble. If you hear anything, let me know. In the meantime, shall I send Jess over, or do you want to double check before she gives it a good going over?"

In her bedroom, Khaat felt Brian's temper raise to a fiery fury, and that rarely happened. And then his energy was just gone. She got up.

"Where are you going?" Remus's portrait asked.

"He's going to get into trouble," she said quietly. "He's too angry." She went to her closet and found the beautiful shawl that Michael had bought her and managed to drape it around her shoulders.

"Are you going alone?" Remus frowned.

"Unless you intend on coming," she said.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Remus frowned deeper.

"Do you know how to ask more questions?" she was frustrated.

"You know I do," he gave her his trademark twisted smile. She rolled her eyes at him, picking up her wand.

"Do tell them I'm not running away from home, would you?" she asked. "We do not need any more housewide panic and mayhem."

Jim stood up seeing Khaat stand up and walk to the closet " hey your not meant to be up " he said and folded his hands in front of his chest as he stood facing her " Brian's a big boy, let Steven or Brant go after him, or even Michael they're fighting fit" he said trying to stall her long enough for Robert or Michael to arrive and stop her from leaving. " god damn it even I'll go look for him if you'll just get back in bed, I'll seal the door if I have to and bind your magic , don't think I won't" he said sternly as he looked at her again.

Steven smiled as Robert spoke " we'll double first give us about an hour" he said and grasped Brant's collar dragging him back up the stairs to check again.

"You're cussing at me?" she looked at him, feeling offended, hurt and confused. She was not sure why he was behaving that way, and she wasn't taking it from him. "What'd I ever do to you to cause that? The last I knew I was still the lady of this house. I own this estate and everything in it, just as much as Brian does. I don't deserve that from you." Jim had always thought of himself as a gentleman, and she had always considered him such. Now, she had just lost respect for him for treating her so disrespectfully.

"Get out of my way," she said firmly. "You lay one hand on my magic, and you're gone. Fired. You understand me? If I am good enough to go fight a mutated monster in mortal combat, I am surely good enough to go talk to Brian."

Jim frowned at her " while your like this I answer to Robert , my orders were to keep you safe and I dam well am going to do just that, where you go I go" he told her " Khaat your like a daughter to me, I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you while on my watch, we go together, if you insist on carrying out this madness." he said standing his ground . but one side of his mouth was turned up to show he was some what proud of her for being so strong once again. He accioed his coat and slipped it on, as he waited he grasped a coat for her and laid it over his arm." Just in case you get cold, where ever it is were going" he said.