Marriage is Murder

Brant sat and watched as every one spoke of whiskey and how expensive it was all he knew was they would need  more potions and he moved to the library. Small though it was he knew Roberts was way bigger he knew he didn't have Roberts trust enough to have access to it yet. He opened the book on puzzles and began  to read again this time it was on Chinese  puzzle boxes and how they work and how to open them. 

Jim saw Brant sitting reading again and walked out to stand on the porch his eyes scanning the grounds.

Khaat started to make a list of things to replace in the lab.  It took them a bit before they all started to surface from the cellar.  She was expecting them to be a trifle angry, but instead, they had very satisfied smiles.  The look of men who had satisfied their palates on a rare treat. 

"So I did okay?" she asked.

"You did very well," her father said. "But what was the occasion?"

"I just got a good deal, that's all," she said. "But you didn't bring me any?"

"I didn't know whether or not you had pain potion today.  You mix much bourbon with gold potion, and you'll look more than a little drunk, even though you're not."

"Just one dose," she admitted. 

"Alright. I'll get you half a glass, then. No more," Robert said.

"I'll get it," Brian said.  He went downstairs. Robert saw the books and papers spread all over the coffee table.

"What are you doing?" he frowned.

"I'm rebuilding our potions lab," she said.

"You don't have the slightest clue how to equip a potions lab. Why didn't you wait for me? Or least ask Brant to make a beginning list for you?"

"I hadn't even figured out how to wrestle the book yet," she sighed.

"The catalogue?" he laughed. "Perhaps you ought to leave the potions lab to potions makers, my darling."

"I need to be useful somehow," she sighed.

"Well, then, if you want to be useful, enjoy your drink and then let Brian start a bit of small movements in your arm and your shoulder," he said.  She didn't reply. She'd been trying that herself, and it didn't work. She didn't think it would be useful to her ever again.

Brant looked up and saw the books and notes he stood up and walked the  over " okay " he said and picked up the catalogue and started looking threw it. " its a very extensive catalogue " Brant commented as Jim walked back in and over to look at them too.


" wow he's right" Jim said and put it back down on the table" okay that's Roberts department for those Brant " he said and Brant nodded looking at Robert as he did so. Jim glanced back out side “ those atempts still bother me “ he said 

"Thank you, Brant. I was having trouble just picking the book up," Khaat said

"All the more reason for you to work on starting to move your shoulder. You can't do strength training until it moves," her father said.  She glared at him.  She didn't believe there was enough tissue left there to support movement anymore. He remained emotionless. "You have to start somewhere, Khaat. What are you out to try?"

"Nothing," she said softly, knowing he would not be deterred. Nor did he understand the severity of the pain she was still experiencing with it.  But that wasn't his problem. She had potions, she had firewhiskey, she had bourbon..  It was her problem.  Her job was just to do what he told her to do. 

She got up and headed for the gym in the cellar.

"Is she irked with you?" Michael asked Robert.

"Indeed," Robert said. "She'll get over it. Its all part of the process."

"You don't think there's something she's keeping from you, is there?"

"Her? No. I'd know if it were something significant. She's just testy because it's going to be hard, painful work. She'll be fine," Robert said, sipping his bourbon. "Oh, Michael, if you get a chance, do you mind taking Brant over to the farm to the library and getting the journal of the custom built equipment? You know where those journals are."

"Yes," Michael said. "I do. You know the boy is itching to see your lab at the farm."

"Its just a lab," Robert shrugged. "I just don't let people muck in it. Too much lethal stuff in there."

"We won't set anything loose, I promise," Michael laughed.

"An excellent idea," Robert said, sitting down and accio'ing the day's newspaper.  "I think there's still a boggart locked in something or another down there. I just forgot where I put it."

"I told you to get rid of that old thing!" Kate snarled at Robert as she went to get herself some tea.  "Who else just happens to have a boggart lying around? Honestly!"

"Uh...well,.." Michael said, "I do, actually."

"And so does my grandfather," Angus said, bringing in a plate of fresh baked crackers, made with fresh spring herbs and a savory spread to go with the. "See if those pass your tests, would you all?" he asked, setting the plate down.

"Old boys and old toys," Kate sighed, taking a cracker and tasting it. "Oh, well done, Angus. They're delicious."

Brant looked at Khaat and smiled " I'll get a basic list together by the end of the day " he said and sat with the catalogue and a note book he paused for a moment as he saw Khaat stand and leave for the gym. " if that's okay with you Robert?" he asked and heard Jim chuckle.

"Of course it is it will free him to take care of Khaat and that's important, leave it with us , well Brant."   he said

"Its fine, Brant," Robert said. "I just don't have time to get to it right now.  I have a number of other irons in the proverbial fire.  I appreciate the help.  Once you get the journal of the custom equipment, you'll find the makers listed there as well.  You will see notations about what I had at the hospital and what I didn't.  Don't worry about the extra pieces I have at home that I don't have at the hospital.  I don't use them there.  I do use them at home, however."

He looked at Michael.  "The library and the lab are fine to show him, but don't spend too much time there.  We have things to do."

"Understood," Michael said.  "Do I have time to help Angus make the pasta he's doing for lunch today, Brant? Or are you going to need the journal right away?"

"The list of basics should take awhile if its well done," Robert said. "But that's up to Brant."

It wasn't more than about 3 minutes when the house shook hard enough with thunder that the art rattled on the walls and the glassware clattered together in the kitchen.  Michael and Robert looked out at the clear blue sky and the sparkling morning sun and looked at each other.

"Going swimmingly downstairs, clearly," Michael said looking at Robert, strongly suspecting that the thunder was Khaat losing her temper at something in the physical therapy Brian was trying to start.

"Yep," Robert said dryly, looking around to see if things were breaking or if it was just going to be the thunder.  He saw Abbey come into the room and climb up on his lap.  "What's the matter?" he asked her.

"Mama mad," she said, cuddling into her papa.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Robert said, kissing the top of her head.

Brian came up a moment later--alone.

"Went well, did it?" Robert asked rhetorically.

"Oh, just peachy," Brian sighed.   "Robert, it doesn't move voluntarily.  The arm, the shoulder, it just wont' move for her.  And when I move it, the pain is insurmountable for her.  This isn't going to be a matter of her toughing it out.  We tried.  We really did."

"I was hoping that was not going to be the case," Robert said, taking off his glasses to look at him.  "It means the regenerating spells haven't worked like I wanted them to. Not at all.  That's nerve damage and its a lot of tissue loss and bone damage. Where is she?"

"Haven't got the foggiest," Brian shrugged.  "She got ticky and apparated out."

"Mama upstairs," Abbey said.

"How do you know?" Robert frowned at the three year old.

"I no know.  I just know," she shrugged.  Robert and Brian paused, both wanting to go see if she was right but having the sneaky suspicion that the child was right on the money. 

"We both know better, right?" Brian looked at Robert, meaning that with a houseful of seers, it was highly unlikely that Abbey would be wrong and that he and Robert should just expect some accuracy of some degree from Abbey when it came in such an unsolicited fashion.

"Oh, shut it, and go look," Robert said, needing now to know for himself as well.

"I'm fine," Khaat said quietly from in the bathroom, the door closed.  "It just makes me angry, that's all.  The noise was just accidental.  Sorry."

"Her father used to have the same temper," the portrait said.  "He just learned to manage it differently.  She gets it honestly enough.  Her mother always was feisty.  She has a temper too, but the thunder? That's her father in her.  He used to brew up some flashy pyrotechnics if he got angry enough.  Damned near burned our house down once when we were boys.  Be glad all she does is noise."