Marriage is Murder

Jess moved back into Khaats room smiling seeing her awak she said nothing not wanting to break the silance in the room as she moved to gently touch Khaays forhead making sure any stiffness and pain was removed from her. Steven walked back to Khaats room and stood out side watching those who passed by not that there waas seeing as it was early morning. Jack ported back and looekd at Steven both nodded and changed shifts. Jess smiled at him and walked over kissing his cheek. " how are the kids?" she asked softly he returned her kiss and placed his mouth close to her ear as he whispered his reply.

"There fine and sleeping when I left" he said glancing over at Khaat " how is she?" he asked Jess looekd to Michael.

" as well as expected , Brians doing better today" she told him as he stood by the door where Steven and been stood earier.

When Brian was fed and had dozed back off, Robert left Kate with him so he could go down and check on Khaat.

He found Michael still there, sitting on the edge of the bed. When Robert came in, Khaat was taking a draw off of one of Michael's cigarettes.

"You do remember that's against the rules in here, right?" Robert asked. When Michael took the cigarette back, Robert took it from him and put it out. He looked back at Khaat. "So how are you feeling?"

"Fine," she said quietly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. How's the pain?" he asked, checking her.

"Manageable."

"You really will need to give this a bit in order to get past this," he said to her.

"Yeah. I know," she said.

"No questions? No thoughts?" he asked.

"No. Don't think so. Not at the moment," she said. He frowned for a moment.

"You'll let me know when you're ready to talk, right?"

"Of course," she said simply.

"You are probably good enough that we might be able to release you later today. I might need to keep Brian until tomorrow," he said.

"Okay," she said simply. He frowned. He looked at Michael who got the message. Michael had decided to stay closer to her. Robert had expected more of a reaction. Not just nothing at all. Robert stepped out into the hall where Jess was.

"She seems, on the surface, to be doing just fine," Robert said. "I'm going to let Michael stay with her, though. If there's anything I should know about, do let me know straight away. I might consider sending her home this afternoon. Perhaps. Brian's not ready yet."

Jess watched Robert as she heard and felt Khaats cold replies to him. She moved to Robert and nodded when he spoke to her. " I agree, she seems...cold in her replies. " she added " I'll do just that" she said looking at Michael still sat on the edge of the bed " I am guessing Belby will be staing with Brian?" she asked softly. Jack nodded as he held Jess around her waist affectionatly.

"Im here now to stand guard with Belby" he said knowing he would not want to leave just yet. " I noticed Abby was quiet this morning but I guess she feels Khaats pain or that something is a miss" he told Robert "Maybe Kate could talk to her?" he asked" you could take the opertunity to wash and change your self," he sugested.

"Whatever it is," Robert said, "I get the very clear impression that Michael knows exactly what's going on. I suppose that's why I'm inclined to leave him there. Its entirely possible that this is the way she's going to deal with the psychological effects of what's happened. Just like Brian's gotten protective and a bit anxious that he might not be able to protect her. She might be just reeling it all in. Its exactly what she did all three times Barker had her. Not exactly in this form, but certainly she wasn't showing any emotion. I suppose its part of the reason I'm considering sending her home."

He thought carefully. "However,..." he said, thinking out loud. "Perhaps a bit of an experiment is in order. One moment." He turned and went back into Khaat's room.

"Khaat," he said, acting as if nothing was different. "Brian's been asking for you. I'd like you to go see him before you go home. It would help him rest."

"Ok," she said simply. Michael looked at Robert, uncertain if he knew what he was doing.

"Good," Robert said. He got a wheelchair for her and took her over to see Brian. He put the chair beside the bed. Michael was glaring at Robert from his place behind Khaat. Robert looked at him, not saying a word. "Brian," Robert called, touching his shoulder. "Khaat's here to see you."

Brian woke immediately, almost with a jolt. He looked at her for a moment, taking it in.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah," she said. "You?"

"Yeah. Better now," He said. Robert motioned everyone to the door, intending to leave Khaat and Brian for just a moment.

"Are you out of your mind?" Michael asked in a whisper.

"Most likely," Robert shrugged. "Whats the worst that can happen? One of them might get upset? Don't you think yesterday was probably worse in comparison? I think its worth the experiment."

"If you want to know, just ask!" Michael hissed in an angry whisper. "I can't believe you've missed it!"

"I've been a little busy saving their lives," Robert scowled quietly. "How about not making me work so hard at the point?"

"The last she remembers is begging me to kill her," Michael said angrily. "Its a whale of a jolt for her to wake up, still here, with a shoulder that hasn't quit hurting for weeks. She's a bit confused."

"So the best thing is to get her out of here and get her home," Robert said. He turned to Jess. "If I send her home, I presume I can trust you to make sure nobody hovers? And you wouldn't mind if I kept Jack here with Brian? If he continues to do well, I might try to take the risk to move him home before bedtime tonight. Maybe. I'll do my best. If you think you could manage to keep things at a low roar around her at home. I don't think she will probably need much but some quiet. Its everyone else I'm concerned about. I could send Belby with you. He's enough of a bulldog that he'd be a good second set of eyes for you. And Brian would have a face here that he knows well if Jack stayed."

Jess nodded and watched as Khaat was wheeled into Brian she heard Roebrt and nodded " its fine with me and yes I'll make sure she get rest and plenty of rest and food" she said softly as she watched the two of them unsure how both would react to each other. Jess cave a sigh " I do hope he can get through her." she said as Jack held her close " Im sure I can live with out him for a night " she chuckled softly and smiled to him.

Jack watched the two people and nodded he agreed with Robert " I would stay ether way," he said looking down at Jess " Sorry but I feel its necessary" Jess nodded she understood. Jack looked up at Khaat and Brian " so what are you trying to achive?" he asked Robert.

"I'm hoping that he'll stop being so frantic to find her. If he gets past that, he'll truly relax and get a little real rest. And if that happens, we might just be able to get him home this afternoon or this evening." Robert said.

"He's also hoping that perhaps she's going to have some sort of emotional breakthrough," Michael said, knowing that wasn't going to happen. "I don't think he's going to get it. I think she'll just ease back into being herself. But, I do agree that he's not going to accomplish anything more for her here. The sooner she gets home the better."

Robert looked in and saw Brian simply talking with her quietly. It all looked very calm indeed. Robert picked up her chart and signed the discharge orders.

"I need that shoulder completely immobilized," Robert said. "No movement, Jess. None. Kate brought one of Khaat's chemise sets. I think she brought one that has tie shoulder straps and a robe. I don't think its wise to try to muck with clothes to port her home only to try to help her get comfortable. Its warm enough that you could simply port from here and take her straight home. If you can manage helping her change from the hospital gown to the chemise, I will help you with the robe to be completely sure we dont' move that shoulder. By the time you help her change, I'll have your orders written up for you. And my guess is that you won't have much issue in stopping her conversation with Brian."

"There won't be any issue," Michael said. "It will be fine. But I'll help if you think you need it."

Jess nodded " I noticed it hanging on the back of the door, shouldn't be a problem" she said as Robert went to sign the papers Jess moved to Khaat excusing herself she explained she needed to get Khaat ready and wheeled her back to her room. Jess after half an hour reamerged with the robe in hand " Robert could you give me a hand " she asked smiling " shes almost ready " Jess said seeing Jack standing guard at the door to Brians room again.

Jess moved back to Khaats room and stood atching her she touched her hand then picked up a glass of water "here your dehydrated and in pain " she offered it hoping she would drink.

Khaat didn't have any real objections to the water, except that she didn't feel particularly thirsty. Nevertheless, she took the glass and was sipping at it, when her father responded to Jess's call to come help with her robe.

"Thank you, Jess," Robert said. "Khaat, I've discharged you. I'm sending you home." She simply looked at him. For the first time, he wasn't sure he could read her eyes and understand how she had truly reacted to his news. "Khaat, this is good news. I don't need to keep you here anymore. You're ready to go home where you belong."

"I know," she said. "Thank you."

"You okay?" he frowned slightly.

"I'm fine," she said, looking at him intensely, deliberately, trying to get him to understand that she was alright.

"If you're sure," he said.

"Its fine," she repeated. "What do you want? Would you feel better if I cried or had a meltdown? What good would it do? This is just part of my life. It is what it is. Now--can I go?"

He sighed, not entirely happy. "Yes," he said. He picked up the robe and helped her and Jess with it so that it didn't move her shoulder in the least. "That should do it, Jess," Robert said. He handed her an envelope with orders about potions that she could use if it were necessary. "You don't need to use these if they're not necessary but you have them available if you do need them."

He looked back at Khaat. "Behave, huh?" he asked gently, brushing her cheek affectionately.

"Where would I go?" she asked, not having any real way to reassure him that she knew of. "Just take care of Brian."

"I will," he said. He called for Belby, who came immediately. "Be sure the ladies get home, Belby. You know how to do the rest."

"Yes, Sir," Belby said.

"Alright," Robert addressed the three of them. "You're all ready to go home. Belby, you'll have to support her through porting. She just doesn't have her strength back."

"Understood," Belby said. He went to Khaat and gently helped her up, supporting her without putting his hand under her bad shoulder. She gripped his forearm with her good hand to steady herself. "Hold onto me," He said to her quietly, glad she was using him to keep herself balanced. He wanted her to feel secure with him. He had firm hold of her, but he wanted her to feel secure.

"If you're ready, Jess," Belby said. "You could take my arm if you want, and I'll take us home."

Jess moved to Belby and took his arm " okay take us home belby, just do it gently" she said and smirked as Jack looked back at her where he stood.

"wait till I get home" he called to her and she laughed at him.

"oow, I can't wait dear," she said and looked to Belby "Sorry Belby, inside joke between Jack and I" she said still smiling as they left. Jack chuckled and looked back at Robert.

"Shes challanging me again, its something we have found." he said and shook his head and chuckled. He moved to stand at the door to Brians room and looked back now getting to work. Jess felt her self stop and quickly moved to the bed pulling back the sheet.

"okay her beds ready Belby" she said waiting for him to place her into it.

Khaat felt the pull of Belby's porting spell. It was a very smooth porting, she had to admit. Clearly he was an accomplished traveler. He had brought her right to the hallway upstairs outside her room. Jess went in to open up the bed and then called that her bed was ready.

"Do you want to go straight to bed?" he asked her. She appreciated that he had asked.

"I don't want to be a bother, Marcus," she said softly to him. "Its alright."

"The last I looked, you were the lady of the house. Has that changed?"

"No," she said.

"Then, would you like to be up for awhile?"

"If its not too much bother," she said.

"Any problems with that, Jess?" Marcus asked gesturing towards the bedroom sofa as a suggestion. "I promise we won't misbehave."