Marriage is Murder

Jack nodded and moved placing his arms around her to as they ported back to the main house appearing in the main house he looked at Belby " I got to find Edward , you okay from here ?" he asked as he moved gently from her and headed down to find Edward and fill him in on what had happened." Edward it was wears again, they attacked Khaat and Belby on her way to work" he said " she's upstairs with Belby now , Robert gave her some potion and she's asleep" he told them both.

Jim stood and waited as the young girl returned with an identical shawl but in much better condition handing it to him he smiled and thanked her. " Please put it on my bill" the girl held up her hand as she spoke.

" Tobias said it was a gift so no charge" she said ad Jim smiled nodding.

" Tell him thank you" he said and shrank it down to slip in his pocket before he ported back to the house just as Jack finished explaining " I got the shawl will take it up to her " he took it out and resized it as he headed up to her room . Opening the door he saw Belby " good to see your still alive " he said and placed the shawl over Khaat's shoulders as she lay in the bed.

"We're fine.  Thank you," He told Jack. He felt Khaat fall all but limp against him, and he picked her up nad simply put her in bed. He took her shoes off and tossed them rather carelessly on the floor and covered her.

"Marc.." she began before almost fading completely.  He didn't speak but merely brushed his hand reassuringly against her cheek to let her know he was still there. It was enough. She fell asleep.  

"I figured it was werewolves.  So, if they attacked on their way to work, that is most likely not a good thing," Edward said.  "It means they're moving into London and away from the isolated attacks.  They may be considering broadening their base to others.  Its hard to say.  I'm going to have to make sure our grounds are completely secure, here and at the farm both.  I want no breeches, no slip ups.  I'll need to find someone who is willing to supervise the outdoor security.  They can't get in without penetrating there first. That has to be our first wall of defense."

Marcus turned sharply when he heard someone else in the room. He saw Jim back with the repaired shawl in his hand.

"Such a little thing," he smiled, "but it matters to her.  I can understand that. She'll appreciate it."  He took off the jacket that belonged to Jack and loosened the tie.  He looked out the window, ever on guard, and studied the view.  He saw nothing suspicious from where he stood. Then he went over to the sitting area in the bedroom and sat down on the sofa.  He had understood the instructions. She was not to be alone.

Jim smiled and nodded " yes its the little things she treasures the most" he said softly he noted Marcus looking out side " this place is like a fortress and every one is on stand by they would be fools to attack us here, explains why they caught you and Khaat out side of here" he said softly so not to wake her he also watched as Marcus moved to sit on the couch. Jim sighed he knew they would come back to the main house sooner or later they always did but this time they were ready.

Jess cleaned up the room and set the bed to remake its self ready for the next patient. " he's a very competent and loyal man" she said looking at Robert as she placed the potion in her pocket " I'll put the bottle back when I'm passing later, you don't think they will be that bold as to attack the main house do you?." she asked as she picked up the clip board and walking to her station placing the clip bard in the holder she placed the paper work in Khaats file and placed it back in the filing cabinet

"Somehow they lured her," Marcus said. "It was that woman. There was a woman that brushed up against her as she passed us. She must have whispered a word to her so quickly that I missed it because it set Khaat off immediately. That was when she told me we had to get to Kings Cross.

"I admit I'm not completely informed on what her need was to go after them so fast, except that perhaps she needs to get them before they get her. And that is thinking that I do understand.

"But when we got there, that necklace of hers started to put off a light show, and she started to hunt for somebody. I didn't have the slightest clue what she was going after or what the necklace meant. I was just winging it.

"She took off after some young guy with long, dark, curly hair. He started to run off and she went after him. But he seemed to have this fairly well thought out. He got to the platform and turned at the last minute and tossed her in front of the train and then he vanished.

"I didn't have a choice. I had to go after her. That's the job," Marcus said. "Clearly, she's not the easiest to keep up with."

Robert thought a moment. "I'm not sure," he replied to Jess. "I have no idea what they're up to. To the best of my knowledge they were tracking us. If they're going into London, I don't know if they're merely moving fighting locations, or if they're changing targets. Its too soon for me to tell."

Jim stood and listened as Marcus spoke about it was a woman who had lured her away from St Mungos " had to be she was always a soft heart to help others" he said and glanced at Khaat in the bed " there are lots of us around you don't have to stay with her 24/7 you know" he said if not the portrait alerting us Jess being a seer or even the guards will notify us" he added walking over to him he smiled " relax a little, you'll be no good all stressed out I learned that years ago" he patted Marcus shoulder then slowly turned and walked to the door " I'll see you down stairs at supper I'm guessing"  he left Marcus and went to the kitchen.

Jess looked at Robert and nodded " as long as they stay away from the kids I'm fine let them , each will end up on the morgue or the catacombs" she said some what angry that they were trying again as she knew it would mean more innocents hurt and ending up in the hospital.

"My concern is if they're striking out against more than just us that it will cause a massive public panic," Robert said quietly. "It not something I want. And its not like we haven't tried to deal with this and eliminate it. Some things just take time to conquer, though."

Marcus listened to Jim. "Thank you," he said. "At this point, though, I can either sit in here, or sit in my room. And as long as someone needs to sit, it might as well be me. And I hope to ask her why she was hunting that man deliberately with no magic. I don't see what she thought she was going to accomplish--but she was hunting him on purpose.

"Can I presume that perhaps there might periodically be some fresh tea in the kitchen? Or perhaps a bottle firewhiskey someplace in the house? I could use some of both, but perhaps you lot don't drink firewhiskey around here. And I honestly don't want to be a bother."

He was starting to feel the start of some all over soreness and stiffness. He was particularly becoming aware that he had most likely bruised some ribs. He knew that the healers wouldn't miss anything broken, but he was definitely going to have some bruised bones. The next thought that ran through his mind was for her. Since he had knocked her to the tracks and then landed on top of her, he expected, as small as she was, she was going to have more bruises than he did.

Jim stopped and looked back at him at the door " I'll send up some tea and yes we do drink firewiskey but later in the evening , I'll send up a pot of tea for now" he said then left.

Jess sighed and nodded " I'm afraid its looking that way" she said and stood looking at him. Jess was worried that if they did attack this time they would be very unprepared and understand though she did have the feeling that they would cope in a battle even with Khaat out of action. Jack looked over at Jim as he entered the kitchen.

"so how is he?2 he asked and Jim smiled at them both.

"there alive Khaats sleeping and Marcus well he's guarding her" Jim said and made up a pot of tea that he promptly sent to Marcus up in Khaats room.

"I'm going to have to go do some of Khaat's pressing duties and mine," Robert told Jess. "Would you mind checking somehow and making sure that either Brian or Edward are keeping an eye on our patients until we get home? Brian can handle it, but if he gets busy, Edward has some good wizarding first aid skills. He's no healer, but he could deal with this, I think. If that doesn't work, then one of us will need to work a shorter shift and head home earlier."

Later in the evening? Marcus thought. Note to self--toss oneself under the train later in the evening. Clearly they were focused on Khaat, as well they should, but they were missing the fact that Marcus hurt too. And as lovely as tea was, it wasn't going to dull the physical pain of the morning. He couldn't risk pain potion right now. Not on duty. It dulled him far too much. But a firewhiskey...now that would be nice.

"Psst!" a voice from someplace was trying to get his attention. Marcus leaped to his feet, wand drawn. "Hold your fire. I'm a friend," the voice said.

"Then show yourself," Marcus demanded.

"Turn around, Genius," the voice said. Marcus looked all around him and saw nothing. "Look up, not down." Marcus whirled around again and his eyes came to rest on the portrait above the fireplace. A wizard in the portrait was smiling and wiggling his fingers in a wave at Marcus.

"Who are you?" Marcus asked.

"Robert's brother and Khaat's uncle," the voice said. "Tea isn't going to help much for that, you know."

"Brilliant," Marcus said, glancing around to see if there was anyone else who had gotten past him. Seeing no one, he sheathed his wand.

"Go look under Khaat's nightstand," the portrait said. Marcus frowned but obeyed. He found a bottle of some of the finest bourbon in the world. That was impressive, Marcus thought. "Whiskey glasses are on the dresser. Help yourself. She's not territorial. She shares."

Marcus picked up a glass and poured himself some of the bourbon and took a sip. As the familiar burn flowed down his throat, he felt the deep relief that came from the hope of some pain relief, even if the relief had not yet come.

"Now, as for the rest of you," the portrait continued. "You smell like an engineer, and Jess may never get the soot and cinders out of Jacks' clothes that you borrowed. You weren't freshly showered when you put them on, you know."

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry about that," Marcus said, wondering why he'd heard himself just apologize to a painting.

"Accio some clothes and go use her shower. You'll be close enough to hear. And I promise I know how to be mouthy enough to make sure that you know if someone comes in who shouldn't. You really do need to look better and smell less like the train itself."

"Probably," Marcus said, accio'ing a pair of skinny jeans and a white t shirt and his running shoes. "You're sure you have this? And how do I explain you if one of the other guards comes in and finds me in her shower? The artwork made me do it?"

"This house is weirder than you know," Remus said with a slight smile. "They're not going to think anything inappropriate, believe me."

"Alright, but only for one minute," Marcus said, insecure.

"And when you learn to trust us, you might allow yourself two minutes the next time," Remus laughed.
Belby scowled at the portrait, glanced at Khaat to be sure she was still sleeping, and then headed to the bathroom with the bourbon glass.

Jess nodded and glanced at the clock " my shift finished anyway so I'l go straight to check on her at the house " she said placing down the chart she looked to her second and nodded .

" go Jess were fine here " she said and Jess nodded " we'll call you if we need you" she added and Jess left the hospital. Jess arrived in Khaat room not seeing Marcus she assumed he had gone back to his room to rest.

" she been okay Remus?" she asked the portrait on the wall " as she walked over to the sleeping Khaat. She heard the shower running but thought nothing of it thinking it could be Brian showering after working out. Jess placed her hand on Khaat and found everything healing as Robert had set , she did however draw off some pain she felt starting and smiled.

"She's fine," Remus said to Jess. "Hasn't moved a muscle. The new boy takes things seriously, doesn't he? He seems like he's used to being very formal. It's going to take him a little to get adjusted to this odd bunch of several families in one house. He'll get it, but it might take him a little time. What was he? Diplomatic security or something?"

Brian had finally freed himself from his work in his office, and had been on his way to go up and see if indeed his wife was in one piece. He headed up the stairs and saw a rat skittering down the hall, along the baseboards, towards Abbey's bedroom.

"Steven!" Brian called. "I could use you!" He was wondering why, in this large house with two cats and a kitten and an eagle, was there a rat in the house. And then he remembered. Khaat and Belby had probably been sleeping. Great. He was sure his bellowing was going to wake them both up.

Belby, who was rinsing himself off, heard the shouting. He bolted out of the shower, foregoing drying himself off and slid his jeans on over his wet skin, and snatched his wand, immediately leveled to fire, and burst out of the bathroom, shirtless and barefooted, hair wet and dripping, intending to make sure nothing got to his client.

"And he's off," Remus said sarcastically, mimicking a horse racing announcer.